India calls for restraint, flags safety of citizens

India emphasised the security of nearly 10 million Indians living in West Asia and the need to safeguard crucial trade and energy supply chains while calling for an early end to the Iran-US war on Tuesday, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the ramifications of the widening conflict with the leaders ‘of Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.

- Rezaul H Laskar

This was the second time that New Delhi called for deescalation and restraint by all stakeholders in the region since Israel and the US Jaunched military strikes on Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior military leaders and triggering a wave of deadly retaliatory attacks against Israel and several other countries, including those hosting US military bases.

Oil prices have surged nearly 13%, hitting their highest level since January 2025, since Iranian forces effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. Natural gas prices rose as QatarEnergy, one of the world’s largest exporters, halted production following attacks on its facilities. These developments have increased concerns in India, the world’s second largest purchaser of crude, with around 85% ofits needs met through imports.