Modi speaks to Netanyahu amid West Asia tensions, reviews security situation

New Delhi, 2 March: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, as tensions escalated in West Asia following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and retaliatory Iranian strikes across the region.

In a post on X early Monday, the Prime Minister said he had a telephone conversation with Netanyahu to discuss the current regional situation. He conveyed India’s concerns over recent developments and emphasised that the safety of civilians should remain a priority. He reiterated India’s call for an early cessation of hostilities.

The outreach came hours after Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in New Delhi. The meeting was held shortly after his return from a two-day tour of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

According to sources, the CCS reviewed the evolving situation following the joint attack on Iran by the United States and Israel and the subsequent developments. 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 senior officials.

Discussions are understood to have focused on the safety of Indian nationals in the region and contingency planning in case of further escalation. Nearly 10,000 Indians are in Iran, over 40,000 in Israel and around nine million across West Asia and the Gulf region.

Airspace disruptions have affected flight operations across several countries. Reports indicate that Indian nationals are stranded in Dubai, Doha and other transit hubs after services were impacted by the military escalation.

The CCS is also learnt to have assessed the implications of Iran’s reported closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for India’s oil imports. The Ministry of External Affairs said Indian missions in the region are in constant contact with nationals and that helplines have been activated.

The Prime Minister’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 the Gulf nation.