No dark days in Persian theatre: Jaishankar, Iranian FM Araghchi discuss West Asia situation amid US outreach to Pakistan
New Delhi: External affairs minister
S Jaishankar
and
foreign minister of Iran
, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on Friday held discussions on Tehran's perspective on the complex situation in West Asia amid the US efforts to engage Pakistan to deal with the
Iranian nuclear programme
.
"Spoke to FM @araghchi of Iran this afternoon. Appreciate his sharing Iran's perspective and thinking in the current complex situation. Thanked him for facilitating the safe evacuation of Indian nationals," Jaishankar wrote following the telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart.
This is the second phone call between the two since the military strikes against Iran. Araghchi visited India amid
Operation Sindoor
.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India has evacuated more than 4,400 Indian nationals from Iran. Tehran had facilitated India's move to evacuate nationals through neighbouring countries as well as through chartered flights hired by New Delhi.
Earlier in the day,
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
dialled the
Pakistan PM
to deal with Iran's nuclear programme, indicating the US' eagerness to involve Islamabad in the Iran issue.
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State department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said "Secretary of state Marco Rubio spoke today with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif regarding events in the Middle East. Secretary Rubio emphasised Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon. The two leaders acknowledged the importance of working together to promote durable peace between Israel and Iran and maintaining regional stability."
During their conversation, the Pakistan PM is understood to have expressed his appreciation for President
Donald Trump
's leadership in securing the ceasefire between Iran and Israel. He also thanked Secretary Rubio for "the US role in facilitating the Pakistan-India ceasefire", despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi making it clear that there is no role for third party mediation.
Sharif is understood to have told that Pakistan would maintain its constructive role in promoting "peace in the Middle East". The phone call comes days after the US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan Field Marshall Asim Munir for lunch and Iran was a key item on the menu.
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