HOW WILL ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT IMPACT INDIA?

What is India’s stand on the escalation in West Asia? Will Indian workers in Israel and Iran get affected? What’s happening on the evacuation front? What about trade ties? What are the financial and geopolitical implications? What happens if Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz?

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The story so far: As the latest Israel-Iran conflict crossed the one-week mark, the Indian government began to bring back Indian citizens from both countries, fearing a further escalation.

In a sudden attack on June 13, Israel launched strikes on Iranian nuclear installations, assassinated top generals, and bombed several cities across the country. Iran’s response has been more robust than expected, as it too has launched barrage after barrage of ballistic missiles on military targets and research facilities in Israel.

How has India reacted to the conflict?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on June 13, briefing him on the attack by Israel on Iran's nuclear facilities in several cities, including Tehran, where senior Iranian generals were assassinated through targeted strikes. The strikes were a clear violation of international law, Iran argued at the U.N. Security Council, as even Israel claimed they were “pre-emptive” and not in retaliation to an attack.

PM Modi calls Netanyahu, reminds need for preventing ‘regional escalation’ of west Asian conflict

In a statement, the government said Mr. Modi had “shared India’s concern and emphasised the need for early restoration of peace and stability in the region.” In a call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed the “deep concern of the international community at the turn of events,” and urged against retaliation and for diplomacy.

Mr. Jaishankar also spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement played safe, calling for dialogue and diplomacy while making no criticism of Israel for launching the strikes. It also disassociated from a statement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which includes China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus and Central Asian states, that had condemned Israel’s “aggression”.