India Steps Up Hormuz Efforts As EAM S Jaishankar Holds 4th Call With Iran’s Araghchi

The article details ongoing high level diplomacy between India and Iran during the West Asia conflict, including multiple Jaishankar-Araghchi calls and Modi-Pezeshkian discussions, emphasising BRICS and multilateral coordination to support regional stability and civilian protection.

India

-Ashish Rana

External affairs minister S. Jaishankar has held a fourth phone call in two weeks with Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, as India tracks the West Asia conflict and its impact on regional stability, bilateral ties and multilateral forums such as BRICS.

Jaishankar wrote on X on Friday that the latest conversation took place on Thursday night, stating: “Had another conversation with Iranian FM @araghchi yesterday night. Discussed bilateral matters as also BRICS related issues.” The post underlined continued high-level contact between New Delhi and Tehran during the fighting.

Iran US tension Jaishankar engagement alongside Modi-Pezeshkian outreach

News of Jaishankar’s latest discussion followed the first phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian since the West Asia war began 13 days earlier. Modi and Pezeshkian spoke on Thursday about the “serious situation” in the region, with Modi voicing “deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure”.

After that conversation, Modi posted on X that he “urged for dialogue and diplomacy” and “reiterated India’s commitment to peace and stability”. The two leaders’ contact came as multiple regional and global powers assessed the fallout of strikes, counter-strikes and the risk of wider confrontation.

Iran US tension Jaishankar calls and readout from Tehran

The Iranian government’s Persian-language readout of Jaishankar’s latest call said Araghchi “briefed” Jaishankar on the latest situation created by the “aggressions and crimes committed” by the US and Israel’s “Zionist regime” against Iran and their “consequences on the stability and security of the region and the world”. This account highlighted Tehran’s strong public line on recent attacks.

According to the same readout, Araghchi stressed the “firm will” of Iran’s government, people and armed forces to use the “legitimate right to self-defence against the aggressors”. The statement added that Araghchi wanted international and regional bodies to “condemn military aggression against Iran” and underlined the significance of forums that discuss collective security.

The Iranian side also referred to BRICS during the call, saying Araghchi, while pointing to the “importance of the role and position of BRICS” as a platform for expanding multilateral cooperation, considered it necessary for the group to play a “constructive role” at the “current juncture to support the stability and security of the region and the world”.

The readout further stated that Jaishankar, while announcing India’s readiness to develop bilateral and multilateral cooperation in regional and international forums, underlined the need for “finding a way to strengthen stability and sustainable security in the region as a collective need”. This positioned India as seeking dialogue with all sides while watching the security situation.

Jaishankar and Araghchi have been in frequent contact since hostilities started, with calls held on February 28, March 5, March 12 and the latest one on March 13. The pattern shows ongoing diplomatic engagement as tensions between Iran, the US and Israel rise and regional actors weigh the risks.

The latest phone call took place against the backdrop of sharper Iran US tension and concern in many capitals that strikes could draw in more actors. For India, which has energy, connectivity and diaspora ties linked to West Asia, sustained dialogue with Iran and other stakeholders has remained a priority.

The article’s author, Shubhajit Roy, is Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express and has reported on foreign affairs for more than 17 years. Roy has worked as a journalist for over 25 years, joined The Indian Express in October 2003, and earlier led the paper’s national government and political bureau in Delhi.

Roy received the Ramnath Goenka Journalism award for Excellence in Journalism 2016 for coverage of the Holey Bakery attack in Dhaka and its aftermath. Roy also received the IIMCAA Award for Journalist of the Year 2022, Jury’s special mention, for reporting on the fall of Kabul in August 2021, when Roy was among the few Indian journalists present in the city.

Taken together, the calls between Jaishankar and Araghchi, along with the Modi-Pezeshkian conversation, underline India’s effort to stay engaged with Iran during the war in West Asia while highlighting concerns over civilian casualties, regional security and the possible role of platforms such as BRICS in supporting stability.