As Tensions Soar in West Asia, Jaishankar Holds Talks with Israel, Iran FMs

Jaishankar Speaks to Israeli, Iranian Foreign Ministers Amid Escalating Tensions in West Asia.

As tensions mount in West Asia following a dramatic exchange of military strikes between Israel and Iran, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday spoke with the foreign ministers of both nations, underscoring India’s diplomatic engagement and calls for restraint.

“Received a call this afternoon from FM @gidonsaar of Israel regarding ongoing developments,” Jaishankar posted on X. He later confirmed a separate conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, adding that they discussed the “latest situation” in the region.

The outreach comes as part of India’s calibrated strategy to maintain dialogue with all sides amid rising fears of a broader regional conflict. By engaging both Tel Aviv and Tehran, New Delhi signaled its intention to monitor the situation closely and push for de-escalation.

The diplomatic conversations followed Israel’s most extensive assault on Iranian soil in decades. Early Friday, Israeli forces launched multiple strikes on Iranian military and nuclear-related facilities, killing at least three senior commanders and causing widespread damage.

Among those reported killed were General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of Iran’s armed forces; General Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); and General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who oversaw the IRGC’s missile program.

Iran has vowed a “powerful and coordinated” response, raising concerns about a potential slide into open war between the two long-standing adversaries. Observers have described the current escalation as the most serious attack on Iranian territory since the 1980–88 Iran-Iraq war.

India, which maintains strong ties with both countries, has consistently called for restraint and dialogue in the region. The Ministry of External Affairs is expected to continue high-level monitoring and backchannel communications as the crisis unfolds.