As Israel, Iran fire missiles, Jaishankar talks to Gideon Sa'ar and Abbas Araghchi
Follow Israel-Iran conflict LIVE updates on June 14
The Minister-level phone conversation was held shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a phone call from his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu. PM Modi had called for 'early restoration of peace' and urged for stability in the Gulf region that is vital for India's economy and security architecture. In the phone call with Mr. Araghchi, Mr. Jaishankar expressed 'deep concern of the international community at the turn of events.' 'He urged avoidance of any escalatory steps and an early return to diplomacy,' said the Indian Embassy in Tehran in the statement.
In response, the Iranian Foreign Minister 'shared Iran's perspective on the situation', said the Embassy of India. The conversation came hours after Israel hit targets, including nuclear energy research centres, inside Iran. Soon thereafter Iran unleashed three waves of missiles and drones as part of what it described as 'Operation True Promise'.
Mr. Araghchi had visited India on 7-8 May to co-chair the 20th India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting. It was his first visit to New Delhi since assuming the office as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran in August 2024. Israel hosts around 30,000 Indian nationals in various industries and academic institutions and Iran is a regional power in the Gulf region which hosts around 10 million Indian expat workers.
That apart, the region is crucial for India's energy security and aviation links with the west. The Hindu reported earlier on Friday that as many as 16 long-haul and ultra long-haul Air India flights were diverted on Friday as Iran closed its airspace after Israel launched the attacks that Prime Minister Netanyahu had termed as 'Operation Rising Lion'. Israel has shut the Ben Gurion airport in capital Tel Aviv as Iranian missiles hit multiple targets in Israel during Friday night.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
6 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Indian tricolour hoisted atop Seattle's iconic Space Needle in historic first
The Indian tricolour was hoisted at Seattle's iconic 605-feet-tall Space Needle on India's 79th Independence Day, the first time that a foreign nation's flag was raised at the popular American destination. Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta along with Mayor of Seattle Bruce Harrell and other select dignitaries from the Seattle city leadership joined the historic and landmark occasion. "No greater honour than this ! Raising the Tiranga on top of Seattle skyline at Space Needle," Mr. Gupta said in a post on X, along with a video of the tricolour flying high atop the iconic Seattle monument with sprawling views of the city below. Calling the commemoration a "historic first in Seattle", the Consulate General of India in Seattle said the celebration underscored the contributions of the Indian-American diaspora in shaping the city's journey as a tech hub in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Later, a community reception was hosted by the Consulate at the scenic Kerry Park, with India's flag on top of the Space Needle in the backdrop. A large number of Indian-American community members turned up to witness the historic sight, the Consulate said in a press release. The reception was attended by several dignitaries including US Congressman Adam Smith, Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court Debra Stephens, Seattle Port Commissioner Sam Cho and Superintendent/Director of Seattle Parks and Recreation AP Diaz. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Smith welcomed the historic celebration, noting that the Indian tricolour's hoisting atop the Space Needle is a tribute to the region's diversity and the strong bonds between India and the Pacific Northwest. The Space Needle, which was built in 1962, stands as a symbol of Seattle's skyline and epitomises the U.S. Pacific Northwest region's tech-driven future. In a special gesture to honour India's Independence Day in the Greater Seattle area, King County, which covers 39 cities, along with Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma and Bellevue, issued official proclamations marking August 15 as India Day. Separately, several iconic buildings across Seattle were also lit up in the Indian tricolours. These included the Lumen Stadium, T-Mobile Stadium, Westin, Seattle Great Wheel and Space Needle. The Indian flag was also hoisted at the prestigious Tacoma Dome, Tacoma City Hall and at the Headquarters of Tacoma Police and Fire Departments, the Consulate said. A vibrant cultural extravaganza featuring national anthems, along with dance performances showcasing the rich diversity of Indian art forms as well as a poetic recital by renowned artist and actor Piyush Mishra also enthralled those attending the special celebrations.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
6 minutes ago
- Business Standard
AI171 crash: US attorney seeks probe data, eyes lawsuit against Boeing
Mike Andrews, the lead US attorney representing more than 65 families impacted by the Air India AI171 crash, has called for full transparency in the investigation. "We want to know the truth, we want transparency and exactly what happened," Andrews told news agency ANI. "These families want to know, and they deserve the respect to know what happened to their loved ones." A report by The Economic Times quoted Andrews as saying that if the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) findings point to technical faults as the cause of the crash, he would move US courts to pursue a product liability case against Boeing. 'We are placing formal requests with the Air India and AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) to release the details of the FDR, which will reveal a great deal about the accident,' he told The Economic Times. Andrews also met the lone survivor and his family, describing them as "humble and hardworking" people who are enduring unimaginable pain. He added that investigators are exploring multiple possible causes, including a malfunction in the throttle control system. "One question is whether or not moisture can affect the systems and cause a problem," he said. Anger over compensation delays The US attorney criticised the slow pace of compensation, calling it a 'bureaucratic process' that would not have existed under the leadership of the late Ratan Tata. "Even in the US, we know who Ratan Tata was," Andrews said. "We know about his work ethic and his humility. If he were here today, we don't believe victims and their families would be subjected to delayed payments." On July 26, Air India released an interim compensation of ₹25 lakh each to the families of 147 passengers and 19 victims on the ground. This amount will be adjusted against the final settlement later. Tata Group's memorial and support The Tata Group has also set up the "AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust" in memory of the victims. The Trust has pledged an ex gratia of ₹1 crore per deceased individual, while also funding the rebuilding of the damaged BJ Medical College Hostel and extending support to first responders and medical teams. On June 12, Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The accident killed 260 people — 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground. Air India CEO on flight safety Following the tragedy, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson addressed frequent flyers through an email, saying their concerns about safety were 'understandable". He assured that the airline is strengthening checks, inspections, and training to ensure safer operations. India's aviation regulator, the DGCA, recently issued four show cause notices to Air India over repeated safety lapses, including issues with crew deployment, pilot rest rules, and training. DGCA records show 19 top-level safety findings in the past year across Air India Group airlines — 10 in Vistara, seven in Air India, and two in Air India Express. Other Indian carriers recorded none in this category. The regulator clarified that higher observations are 'normal' for larger airlines but stressed that immediate corrective action is required. Air India crash: What the preliminary report found The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) initial findings revealed that both fuel control switches had been moved to the 'cutoff' position, cutting supply to the engines shortly after take-off. The report found one pilot questioning the move, while the other denying making it. Wilson, in his note to customers, added, 'All our processes are backed by a comprehensive Safety Management System aligned with global standards and fully compliant with DGCA and ICAO guidelines.'
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
6 minutes ago
- Business Standard
NCERT modules blame Cong for partition, cite leaders underestimated Jinnah
NCERT's new special modules on the Partition of India have placed significant responsibility on the Congress leadership for the division of the country, saying they "accepted the plans of Partition" and "underestimated Jinnah" while failing to anticipate the long-term horrors that followed. Two modules, one for the middle stage and another for the secondary stage, were released this August to mark Partition Remembrance Day. "The Partition of India and the creation of Pakistan were by no means inevitable," the module states. Instead, they argue, three actors shaped the division, "Jinnah, who demanded it; the Congress, which accepted it; and Mountbatten, who formalised and implemented it." The secondary stage module notes, "None of the Indian leaders had experience in running national or even provincial administration, the army, police, etc. Hence, they had no idea of the massive problems that would naturally arise... Otherwise, such haste would not have been made." The modules describe Partition as an "unprecedented human tragedy, with no parallel in world history." They document mass killings, the displacement of nearly 1.5 crore people, large-scale sexual violence, and trains of refugees arriving "filled only with corpses, having been slaughtered en route." One section notes, "Some horrors began even before Partition was finalised... The horrific events in Noakhali and Calcutta (1946), and Rawalpindi, Thoha, and Beval (March 1947) stand as chilling examples." The content highlights that the Muslim League's Direct Action Day in August 1946, accompanied by violence, was a turning point. It cites Jinnah's warning, "Either a divided India or a destroyed India," as pressure that led Congress leaders Nehru and Patel to finally concede. The secondary module also links Partition directly to enduring challenges, including the Kashmir conflict, communal politics, and external pressures on India's foreign policy. "Pakistan has waged three wars to annexe Kashmir and, after losing them, adopted a policy of exporting jihadist terrorism... All this is a consequence of Partition," it states. Even Jinnah, the module notes, later admitted he had not expected Partition to materialise in his lifetime: "I never thought it would happen. I had never expected to see Pakistan in my lifetime." For younger students, the middle stage module narrates the Partition in simpler terms but strikes the same note of shared responsibility. It states, "There were three elements responsible for the Partition of India: Jinnah, who demanded it; second, the Congress, which accepted it; and third, Mountbatten, who implemented it." The section also emphasises Mountbatten's role in advancing the transfer of power from June 1948 to August 1947, calling the haste "a great act of carelessness" that left millions unaware which country they belonged to even after Independence Day. The modules conclude by framing Partition as a warning for future generations: "Shortsightedness in rulers can become a national catastrophe. Giving concessions to violence to gain peace results in whetting the appetite of violence-prone groups." They emphasise that recalling the "horrors of Partition" is crucial only if India draws lessons, rejecting communal politics and ensuring leadership that prioritises national welfare over personal or party interests. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
