Strain in Iran-Israel ties a concern, says EAM

Jaishankar says India keen on Red Sea conflict mitigation as trade hit, calls for deeper cooperation in Gulf, Mediterranean

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THE strain in Israel-Iran ties is a cause for concern, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said while speaking at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain on Sunday. "Some of our diplomatic efforts have focused on that particular aspect," he said.

There have been mounting global concerns over escalating tensions between Iran and Israel in the last few months.

In October, Iran fired around 200 missiles into Israel in response to Israel's killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and other commanders of the militant outfit. Israel subsequently retaliated against the Iranian strikes.

Without directly naming the Houthi militants, who attack merchant vessels in the Red Sea impacting global trade activities, Jaishankar highlighted India's interests in mitigating the conflict in the area.