India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest in West Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday after he held a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump that focused on securing the Strait of Hormuz for global shipping.
The call was initiated by the US president, a day after he extended Washington’s deadline by five days for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia,” Modi said on social media.
“India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world. We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability,” he said.
US envoy to India Sergio Gor also said that the two leaders deliberated on the importance of keeping the key shipping lane open.
“They discussed the ongoing situation in the Middle East, including the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open,” Gor said on social media.
Trump said on Monday that he has extended the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the strategically located shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and that he will hold off strikes against Iranian energy sites for five days.
The US president, without sharing any details, also said that there have been “productive conversations” between the US and Iran for “complete and total resolution” to the conflict in West Asia.
Govt forms 7 empowered groups to devise strategies to tackle impact of West Asia war
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the government has constituted seven empowered groups to evolve strategies on fuel, supply chains, and fertilisers, among others, to tackle the impact of the West Asia crisis.
In a statement in the Rajya Sabha, he said the war has created a serious energy crisis globally.
He asserted that the government is trying to procure gas and crude oil from all available sources, and efforts will continue in the coming days, while noting that necessary preparations have been made for the adequate supply of fertilisers.
“The government is working with a comprehensive strategy to address every aspect of this crisis — be it its short-term, medium-term, or long-term implications,” the Prime Minister said.
He further said the government has already constituted an inter-ministerial group, which meets regularly to assess any difficulties in import-export operations and consistently works on devising necessary solutions.
“Much like the empowered groups, comprising experts and officials, that were formed during the COVID-19 pandemic to tackle challenges across various sectors, seven such new empowered groups were constituted just yesterday.
“These groups will be tasked with taking action, guided by both immediate and long-term strategies, on critical issues, such as supply chains, petroleum and diesel, fertilisers, natural gas, and inflation. I am fully confident that through these collective efforts, we will be able to effectively navigate the prevailing circumstances,” Modi said.
Noting that the West Asia crisis is of a unique nature, the prime minister said its solutions are being devised in a correspondingly distinct manner.
“We must confront every challenge with patience, restraint, and a calm mind,” he said.
Amid a constantly evolving situation, he urged citizens “to remain prepared for every challenge that may arise”.
“There is a strong likelihood that the adverse repercussions of this conflict will persist for a considerable period. However, I assure the people of this nation that the government remains vigilant and proactive; it is formulating strategies with the utmost seriousness and taking every necessary decision,” Modi said.
Stating that the welfare of the people of the nation is paramount, he said efforts must be made unitedly in tackling the crisis.
The Prime Minister also asserted that the government is making all efforts to minimise the impact of the West Asia crisis on India, while assuring farmers that it is standing with them in all situations.
All efforts are made to ensure adequate availability of fertilisers for the upcoming sowing season, he said.
Irrespective of crisis, he said, “maintaining high economic growth is our responsibility”.
Modi said the war in West Asia is a cause of concern, and India wants peace in the region through dialogue and diplomacy.
India’s aim is the de-escalation of the war and opening of the Strait of Hormuz, he said, adding that the country’s attempt is to encourage all sections to peacefully resolve all issues.
If the West Asia crisis persists for a longer period, serious consequences are imminent, the prime minister said.
Commenting on India’s efforts for energy security, he said that in the past 11 years, 53 lakh MT strategic oil reserves have been created and work on 65 lakh MT additional capacity is underway.
Govt calls all-party meet on West Asia today
The Central government has convened an all-party meeting on the West Asia crisis at 5 pm on Wednesday, sources said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to chair the meeting, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expected to be present, they said.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi told reporters at the Parliament House Complex that he would not be able to attend the all-party meeting as he is scheduled to attend a programme in Kerala.
The call for an all-party meeting comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address in Parliament on the West Asia situation.
In his statement in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Modi said the government has constituted seven empowered groups to evolve strategies on fuel, supply chains and fertilisers, among others, and stem the impact of the Iran-Israel-US conflict.
Stating that the war has created a serious energy crisis globally, Modi warned people against taking advantage of the situation and asked the state governments to check black marketing and hoarding.
The government is trying to procure gas and crude oil from all available sources, he said, asserting that efforts will continue in the coming days.
He noted that necessary preparations have been made to ensure an adequate supply of fertilisers.
Meanwhile, the Congress has hit out at the prime minister, saying that his statement on the crisis was a “prepared text full of self-praise” for all that he claims to have accomplished in the last 11 years.
In his address in Lok Sabha on Monday, Modi had said the difficult global conditions caused by the West Asia conflict are likely to persist for a long time and called upon the nation to remain prepared and united, just as it had during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He addressed concerns related to the impact on fuel, fertilisers, national security and other areas in India as well as on Indians residing in the West Asia region, detailing the steps taken by the government to ensure that “ordinary families face as little trouble as possible”.
He said a unanimous voice on this crisis should go out to the world from India’s Parliament.
Reaffirming the country’s unwavering commitment to humanity and peace, the prime minister said dialogue and diplomacy remain the only path to resolution, and every Indian effort is directed at de-escalation and cessation of hostilities.
In his remarks, the prime minister had said that West Asia was important to India as nearly one crore Indians lived and worked in the Gulf countries. A high number of Indian crew members worked in commercial ships that sail in these seas.
“Due to these varied reasons, India’s concerns are naturally greater. Therefore, it is essential that a unanimous and united voice from India’s Parliament on this crisis reaches the world,” he had said.