India Condemns Infra Attacks, Pushes Navigation Security as Modi Speaks to Iranian President

India on Saturday sharpened its diplomatic outreach to both sides of the widening West Asia conflict, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to convey Eid and Nowruz greetings while explicitly condemning attacks on “critical infrastructure in the region” that “threaten regional stability and disrupt global supply chains,” and reiterating the need to “safeguard freedom of navigation” and keep shipping lanes “open and secure,” even as he acknowledged Iran’s support in ensuring the safety of Indian nationals. 

File Photo of PM NaMo with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian; PMO Crop Via: BreakingMinutes

The call marks a notable step in restoring high-level engagement after the Ministry of External Affairs had earlier indicated that communication with Iranian leadership was difficult to establish in the initial days of the war due to the rapidly evolving conflict environment.

In an earlier conversation on March 13, Modi had already conveyed to President Pezeshkian that India was “deeply concerned” about the “escalation of tensions,” the “loss of civilian lives” and “damage to civilian infrastructure,” while clearly stating that “the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India’s top priorities,” even as he reiterated that the crisis must be resolved through “dialogue and diplomacy,” underscoring the continuity in India’s position as the conflict intensifies.

The conversation follows a similar diplomatic line articulated just a day earlier in Modi’s call with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, where both sides “condemned attacks on the energy and civilian infrastructure in the region” and warned of their “adverse impact on global food, fuel and fertilizer security,” while again underscoring the importance of “ensuring freedom of navigation and keeping shipping lines open and secure.” 

These back-to-back engagements show a consistent Indian position of condemnation of infrastructure strikes, emphasis on maritime security, and a push for de-escalation through dialogue.

This outreach builds on a broader diplomatic push already underway, where Modi has engaged multiple global leaders across regions to stress “dialogue and diplomacy,” condemn attacks on energy infrastructure, and back “safe and free navigation” through the Strait of Hormuz . 

The urgency reflects a rapidly deteriorating ground reality where energy facilities across Iran and Qatar have been hit, LNG supplies disrupted, and shipping routes through Hormuz remain under pressure. These are directly affecting global trade and fuel flows.

On the operational front, India continues to manage the crisis across multiple fronts. Government officials on March 20 had said all 22 Indian-flagged vessels carrying 611 seafarers in the Gulf remain safe with “no maritime incident” reported in the last 24 hours, while evacuation efforts continue with hundreds of Indians returning via Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

Civil aviation advisories remain in place for Middle East airspace, and Indian missions across the region are operating round-the-clock to assist nationals, including handling fatalities and coordinating repatriation.

The current picture shows a dual-track Indian response of sustained diplomatic engagement with all sides, including Iran, even as it navigates a war it is not a part of that has already disrupted energy systems, shipping corridors and civilian mobility at scale.

In parallel, U.S. President Donald Trump has signalled that Washington is “very close” to achieving its war objectives, even as the U.S. Treasury has issued short-term sanctions waivers allowing previously loaded Russian and Iranian crude to reach markets, effectively creating limited compliance windows to prevent supply shocks as the conflict peaks.