Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, as tensions escalated sharply in the Middle East following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and retaliatory Iranian strikes across the region.
In a post on X early on Monday, PM Modi said, “Had a telephone call with PM Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the current regional situation. Conveyed India’s concerns over recent developments and emphasised the safety of civilians as a priority. India reiterates the need for an early cessation of hostilities.”
The outreach came hours after PM Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), India’s highest decision-making body on security and strategic affairs. The meeting was held shortly after his return to New Delhi from a two-day tour of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
According to sources cited by news agency PTI, the CCS reviewed the fast-evolving situation following the joint attack on Iran by the US and Israel and the consequent death of Khamenei. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the meeting, along with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other top officials.
The discussions are understood to have focused on the safety of Indian nationals in the Middle East and contingency plans should the conflict intensify further. Nearly 10,000 Indians live in Iran, over 40,000 in Israel and about nine million across West Asia and the Gulf.
Airspace across much of the region remains disrupted. Hundreds of Indians are reportedly stranded in Dubai, Doha and other major transit hubs after flight services were affected by the military escalation.
The CCS is also believed to have assessed the impact of Iran’s reported closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route for Indian oil imports. The Ministry of External Affairs said Indian missions in the region are in constant contact with nationals, and helplines have been activated.
PM Modi’s call with Netanyahu followed his earlier conversation with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during which he condemned recent attacks on the United Arab Emirates and expressed solidarity.
(With inputs from agencies)
