India Urges Immediate De-escalation Amid Rising Tensions Between Iran and Israel

India expressed severe worry on Sunday over the growing tensions between Iran and Israel, citing Iran's first direct strike on Israel as a potential catalyst for a broader confrontation in West Asia. India urged for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to diplomatic channels.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with his Iranian and Israeli counterparts over the phone separately as Iran's firing of hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel heightened regional tensions. He emphasized the need to avoid escalation and to exercise restraint.

Seven Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards, including a senior general, were killed in an alleged Israeli raid on the embassy in Damascus on April 1. Iran launched the attack on Israel in retaliation.

India's response demanded an expeditious de-escalation of the circumstances and said that its embassies are in close communication with the Indian community residing in the area.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "We are deeply concerned at the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran which threatens the peace and security in the region."

"We call for immediate de-escalation, exercise of restraint, stepping back from violence and return to the path of diplomacy," it said.

India is keeping a careful eye on the changing circumstances in West Asia, according to the MEA.

"We are keeping a careful eye on how things are changing. The Indian community in the area is closely connected to our embassies there, a statement said.

"It is vital that security and stability are maintained in the region," it said.

Many world leaders called for Iran and Israel to exercise caution in response to Iran's extraordinary assault, which caused widespread outrage and distress.

During his phone discussion with Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, his Iranian counterpart, Jaishankar also demanded the release of 17 Indians who were traveling aboard the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship MSC Aries.

Near the Strait of Hormuz, on Saturday, the Iranian military took control of a cargo ship that had connections to Israel. There are 17 Indians in the ship's crew.

"This evening, I spoke with Iranian FM @Amirabdolahian. discussed the present state of affairs in the area and took up the release of 17 Indian crew members from the MSC Aries," Jaishankar wrote on 'X'. emphasized the need of remaining calm, avoiding escalation, and reverting back to diplomacy. He answered, "Agreed to stay in touch."

During his meeting with Israel Katz, the Israeli foreign minister, Jaishankar expressed India's worries over the aftermath of the hostilities between Iran and Israel.

"Spoken the same alarm at the events of yesterday. spoke about the broader geographical context. "Agreed to maintain communication," said the minister of foreign affairs.

India warned its people not to go to Iran and Israel on Friday because to the rising tensions in West Asia.

According to information obtained, New Delhi is considering a number of backup plans, including as the potential evacuation of Indian nationals from the two nations in the event that the situation worsens.

There are now around 4,000 Indians living in Iran and about 18,500 in Israel, based on government figures.

The Israeli military said that it and its allies had intercepted most of Iran's more than 300 drone and missile launches in the wake of the country's strike.

According to Iranian news agency IRNA, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri said that Tehran has no intention of carrying out the operation against Israel any further, having completed it hours after Tehran attacked Israel.

Tehran reportedly threatened to launch a "much bigger" counterattack in the event that Israel chose to launch one.

According to US President Joe Biden, Israel was able to intercept almost all of the inbound drones and missiles fired by Iran with the assistance of the US military.

"Earlier today, an unprecedented airstrike on Israeli military installations was carried out by Iran and its proxies based in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. I vehemently denounce these insults," he said in a statement.

"At my direction, to support the defence of Israel, the US military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region over the course of the past week," stated Vice President Biden.

"Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our servicemembers, we helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles," he said.

The US president reiterated Washington's "ironclad" commitment to Israel's security in a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"I'm going to get together with the other G7 leaders tomorrow to plan a coordinated diplomatic response to Iran's egregious act. My group will interact with their regional equivalents," said Biden.

"And we'll maintain regular communication with Israel's authorities. Even though there haven't been any assaults on our personnel or infrastructure today, we'll be on the lookout for any threats and won't think twice about taking the necessary precautions to keep our people safe," the speaker said.

Antonio Guterres, the secretary general of the UN, has vehemently denounced Iran's assault on Israel.

"I strongly condemn the serious escalation represented by the large-scale attack launched on Israel by the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.

Guterres also demanded that hostilities end right now.

"The very real threat of a catastrophic escalation that affects the whole area genuinely worries me. He stated, "I implore all sides to use the utmost caution in order to prevent any action that might result in significant military conflicts in the Middle East on several fronts."