Netanyahu dials PM Modi; India calls for early peace, stability
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed by his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on the evolving situation as tensions escalate in West Asia following devastating strikes by Israel that targeted the top Iranian military leadership and crippled nuclear sites across the country.
The two leaders spoke after Netanyahu dialled India following the strikes that have sparked off worries about a prolonged conflict in the region. "He briefed me on the evolving situation. I shared India's concerns and emphasised the need for early restoration of peace and stability in the region," PM Modi posted on X after the call.
India has expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel and has offered all possible support, urging the two nations to use dialogue and diplomacy to work towards de-escalation. It also abstained from a vote on a UNGA resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
New Container Houses Indonesia (Prices May Surprise You)
Container House | Search ads
Search Now
Undo
In a statement issued hours after a series of Israeli strikes on key locations in Iran, Indian external affairs ministry said that it was closely monitoring the evolving situation.
"India urges both sides to avoid any escalatory steps. Existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy should be utilised to work towards a de-escalation of the situation and resolving underlying issues," MEA statement read, adding that India has close and friendly relations with both the countries.
Live Events
Given the security situation that is expected to deteriorate in the coming days as Iran guns for retaliation and with Israel firm on continued strikes on nuclear enrichment facilities, India has advised all its nationals in the region to exercise caution and follow local security advisories.
India also chose to abstain from voting in a United Nations General Assembly resolution that demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution was adopted after 149 votes were counted in its favour, with 19 abstentions and 12 nations voting against it.
India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said New Delhi is deeply concerned at the deepening humanitarian crisis and condemns the loss of civilians but has earlier taken the same stand on resolutions on the Israel-Palestine issue.
"Our vote today is in continuation of this in the belief that there is no other way to resolve conflicts but through dialogue and diplomacy. A joint effort should be directed towards bringing the two sides closer. For these reasons, we would abstain on this resolution," he said. The diplomat added that India has repeatedly called for the protection of civilians, upholding of humanitarian obligations and for the safe, sustained and timely supply of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
17 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Iran did not anticipate Israeli attack before nuclear talks with US: Report
Iran's top leadership had been preparing for a potential Israeli attack if nuclear talks with the US failed, but made a key misjudgment – they did not expect Israel to strike before the next round of talks, scheduled for Sunday in Oman, The New York Times report said citing officials close to Iran's leadership. They believed Israeli warnings of imminent strikes were propaganda aimed at pressuring Iran into nuclear concessions. As a result, planned safety measures were reportedly ignored. On the night of the strikes, senior commanders, including Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) aerospace unit, stayed in their homes instead of seeking shelter. Hajizadeh and top aides were killed during an emergency war meeting at a Tehran base hit by Israel, The NYT report added. With Israeli PM Netanyahu warning that the offensive may last weeks and calling on Iranians to rise against their clerical rulers, fears of a wider regional conflict are mounting. Israel sees Iran's nuclear programme as an existential threat, claiming the strikes were necessary to prevent Iran from reaching the final stage of building a nuclear weapon. Iran insists its programme is peaceful, though the UN nuclear watchdog recently reported that Tehran had violated non-proliferation obligations. Israel's strikes severely damaged Iran's defence systems, dismantling key radars and air defenses, crippling its ballistic missile access, and killing senior military leaders. Private messages obtained by The New York Times revealed Iranian officials expressing frustration over the failure to detect or stop the assault. 'Where is our air defense?' and 'How can Israel come and attack anything it wants, kill our top commanders, and we are incapable of stopping it?' some wrote. The NYT further quoted Hamid Hosseini, a government-aligned member of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, as saying that the attacks exposed critical weaknesses. 'Israel's attack completely caught the leadership by surprise, especially the killing of top military figures and nuclear scientists. It also exposed our lack of proper air defense and their ability to bombard our critical sites and military bases with no resistance,' he said. Hosseini added that Israel's ability to smuggle missile parts and drones into Iran hinted at a deep infiltration of Iran's security apparatus. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had been moved to a secure location, declared in a televised address: 'They should not think they attacked and it is over. No, they started it. They started the war. We will not allow them to escape from this crime unharmed.' In response, Iran launched multiple missile waves targeting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Earlier, Khamenei told Iran's Supreme National Security Council that he wanted revenge but urged caution, saying he 'did not want to act hastily,' according to officials familiar with the meeting, as quoted in the report.
Hindustan Times
25 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Donald Trump warns Iran: ‘Full might of US military will come down on you if…'
US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Tehran as hostilities escalated between Israel and Iran with fresh overnight attacks. Trump threatened to launch 'full strength and might' of US military, if Iran were to target American assets. Distancing the Washington from Israel's military strikes Trump cautioned Iran, saying, 'If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US armed forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,' he said in a message posted on Truth Social. He also suggested that a diplomatic resolution was possible. 'However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict,' Trump said, though he did not elaborate on the terms of any potential agreement. The warning came amid intense fighting between Israel and Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further raised fears of broader escalation, saying, 'What Iran has seen so far is nothing compared with what is coming in the next days." Israel's military also warned Iranians residing near nuclear facilities to evacuate immediately, raising fears of a broader escalation. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi accused Israel of launching attacks to derail nuclear negotiations with the US set to resume in Oman on Sunday. Araqchi further said that Israel's actions are clearly supported by the US, and Iran is only exercising its right to self-defence, reported Reuters. Israel has maintained that the ongoing campaign is aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions and neutralizing its ballistic missile infrastructure. Officials acknowledged that airstrikes alone are unlikely to completely halt Iran's nuclear programme, but said that the offensive might lay the groundwork for a broader diplomatic settlement involving the US and Iran. Tehran claimed that 78 people were killed on the first day of Israeli strikes, with many more casualties reported on the second. Among the dead were 60 civilians, including 29 children, killed when a missile flattened a 14-storey apartment building in Tehran. The latest barrage of Iranian missiles targeting Israel began late Saturday night, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem and Haifa around 11 PM local time. In a notable expansion of the conflict, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for launching several ballistic missiles at central Israel's Jaffa on Sunday — marking the first time a regional Iranian ally had entered the conflict, according to news agency Reuters. Iran has warned that military bases belonging to Israel's allies in the region will also be targeted if they assist in intercepting Iranian missiles.
Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Alcohol industry asks Maharashtra govt to rethink excise duty hike, calls for deliberations
Expressing concern over the increase in the excise duty on Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) by up to 50 per cent by the Maharashtra government, the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), the apex body of the Indian Alcoholic Beverage Industry, has urged the state government to reconsider the hike and hold deliberations with all stakeholders immediately. Sources in the excise department said the industry body was trying to protect its interest, but declined to comment on any possibility of a rollback. The state cabinet on Tuesday approved a hike in excise duty on IMFL, country liquor, and imported alcohol. The decision is expected to raise the state's annual excise collection by approximately Rs 14,000 crore as the prices of IMFL and premium foreign liquor brands are likely to increase by 50-80 per cent. The CIABC claimed that while the intent behind the proposed hike may be to enhance revenue collections by Rs 14,000 crore, the actual outcome may be contrary–driven by declining sales, rising illicit trade, and border leakages. The long-term impact could be deeply detrimental, not only for industry and employment, but also for public safety and overall state revenues. Stating that the CIABC had already written to the Maharashtra government urging it to start a consultative process with all stakeholders before releasing any final gazette notification, Anant S Iyer, Director-General, CIABC, said the hike in excise duty was projected to push maximum retail prices up by as much as 85 per cent, a step that could severely disrupt the market, erode the competitiveness of national brands, and jeopardise the availability of legitimate alcoholic beverages in the state. 'Such an unprecedented escalation in duties poses a serious deterrence to consumer access of established and reputed brands, compelling a shift toward lower-category products. This poses a serious threat to the stability of the IMFL industry in the state…such a move will have a far-reaching adverse impact,' Iyer said. He warned that higher MRPs often create a vacuum filled by illegal operators. The IMFL industry contributes approximately 60 per cent of the total excise revenue of the state.
