External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Monday said the government is closely monitoring the rapidly escalating conflict in West Asia after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered a wider regional crisis, assuring Parliament that New Delhi is coordinating responses to safeguard Indian interests and citizens.
Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha amid sloganeering by Opposition members, Jaishankar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally tracking developments as the situation continues to deteriorate across the region.
“The Prime Minister continues to closely monitor the emerging developments, and relevant ministries are coordinating to ensure effective responses,” Jaishankar told the House.
The minister’s briefing came after the conflict erupted on February 28 when joint strikes by the United States and Israel targeted key installations in Iran. The attacks reportedly killed Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with several members of the country’s ruling establishment, triggering a sharp escalation across West Asia.
In the days since, hostilities have intensified, with reports of fresh attacks over the weekend targeting oil depots and water desalination facilities, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
Jaishankar said the government had anticipated the possibility of instability in the region and had earlier urged restraint. “Our government had issued a statement on 20th February expressing deep concerns and urging all sides to exercise restraint. We continue to believe that dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate the tensions,” he said.
Reiterating India’s position, the minister said New Delhi had formally conveyed its concerns on February 28 after the outbreak of hostilities, particularly in view of the rising casualties and the collapse of the Iranian leadership structure.
Jaishankar also informed lawmakers that the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Modi, has been reviewing the evolving situation and its implications for India. The panel, he said, is closely examining the broader regional fallout as well as the safety of Indians living or travelling in the affected countries.
“The committee is concerned about the regional conflict and the difficulties faced by Indians in the region and Indian travellers,” he said, adding that all ministries have been directed to take necessary steps to address the emerging challenges.
According to the minister, the geopolitical environment in the region has significantly worsened, with the conflict beginning to spill over into other countries, heightening global security and economic concerns.
Despite disruptions in the House, Jaishankar reiterated that India continues to advocate diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation. “Dialogue and diplomacy are the ways forward for all sides to de-escalate,” he said.
Opposition members, however, continued raising slogans and demanded a detailed discussion under Rule 176, seeking a debate on the implications of the conflict for India’s energy security and the safety of the Indian diaspora in the region.
