External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday that India remains supportive of dialogue and diplomacy [1].
The diplomatic call occurs as tensions rise across West Asia, threatening the safety of international trade routes and the crews who navigate them. Because India relies heavily on maritime trade and energy imports from the region, any escalation in naval conflict directly impacts its economic security.
Speaking from New Delhi, Jaishankar said the need for regional stability is necessary to prevent further volatility [2]. He specifically addressed the targeting of non-military ships in contested waters, noting that such actions jeopardize global commerce.
"India is always supportive of dialogue and diplomacy," Jaishankar said [1].
The Indian minister also issued a direct warning regarding the safety of seafarers. He said that India views the targeting of commercial assets as unacceptable regardless of the political motivations involved.
"We condemn attacks on commercial vessels by any party and urge Iran to avoid such attacks," Jaishankar said [2].
Throughout the conversation, Jaishankar said Iran should exercise restraint to avoid a wider conflict that could destabilize the region further [1]. The call focused on preventing attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers to ensure the continued flow of trade [2].
India has historically maintained a balanced relationship with both Iran and other regional powers, often acting as a bridge for diplomatic communication. By explicitly condemning attacks on commercial vessels, New Delhi is signaling that its tolerance for maritime instability is low as regional frictions intensify [1].
“"India is always supportive of dialogue and diplomacy,"”
This diplomatic outreach highlights India's strategic priority to protect its maritime interests in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. By urging Iran to avoid targeting commercial shipping, New Delhi is attempting to decouple regional political conflicts from the global trade infrastructure, ensuring that economic arteries remain open even as diplomatic tensions between West Asian powers peak.
