New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian today and expressed concern at the recent escalations in the Iran-Israel conflict. The US entered the conflict today by attacking three sites in Iran — Natanz, Isfahan and the mountain-buried Fordow, all key parts of Tehran’s nuclear programme, which it maintains is purely for civilian purposes.
The call that lasted 45 minutes came from Mr Pezeshkian in the wake of the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, sources said. The Iranian president briefed PM Modi in detail on the evolving situation, the sources said, adding he described India as a friend and partner in promoting regional peace, security and stability.
Mr Pezeshkian thanked PM Modi for India’s position and called for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy, sources said. India’s voice and role was important in restoring regional peace and stability, he said.
“Spoke with President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian. We discussed in detail about the current situation. Expressed deep concern at the recent escalations. Reiterated our call for immediate de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward and for early restoration of regional peace, security and stability,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
Spoke with President of Iran @drpezeshkian. We discussed in detail about the current situation. Expressed deep concern at the recent escalations. Reiterated our call for immediate de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward and for early restoration of regional…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 22, 2025
Fordow was struck by at least six B-2 stealth bombers this morning, while Tomahawk cruise missiles struck the other two sites in Iran.
Secretly built in violation of UN resolutions under a mountain near the holy central city of Qom, Fordow was first publicly revealed in 2009. Initially described as an “emergency” facility built underground to protect it from potential air attacks, Iran later indicated it was an enrichment plant capable of housing about 3,000 centrifuges.
Following the strikes, US President Donald Trump addressed the nation and issued a stern warning to Iran. “There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we’ve witnessed over the last eight days,” Mr Trump said from the White House on Saturday night (local time).
The Israeli Air Force retaliated with a fresh wave of airstrikes on military targets in western Iran in response to Iranian missile attacks that injured civilians in Israel.
Experts have said any further escalation will have wider implications for India’s trade with West Asian countries, including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.
India’s exports to Iran stood at $1.24 billion in fiscal 2025, with key items including basmati rice ($753.2 million), banana ($53.2 million), soya meal ($70.6 million), Bengal gram ($27.9 million), and tea ($25.5 million). Imports stood at $441.8 billion last fiscal.
With Israel, India’s exports stood at $2.1 billion and $1.6 billion in imports in 2024-25.
India’s bilateral ties with both Israel and Iran are strong.
The latest conflict that began with an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 has brought cargo movement through Red Sea routes to a halt due to attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial shipping. Last year, the situation around the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping route connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, escalated due to attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militants.
Around 80 per cent of India’s merchandise trade with Europe passes through the Red Sea, and substantial trade with the US also takes this route. Both these geographies account for 34 per cent of the country’s total exports.
The Red Sea Strait is vital for 30 per cent of global container traffic and 12 per cent of world trade. Based on the tariff war impact, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has already said that global trade will contract 0.2 per cent in 2025 as against the earlier projection of 2.7 per cent expansion.
