Iran wants PM Modi's help to end Israel's retaliatory attack in Gaza: ‘Expect India to use all its capacities…’

New Delhi, Nov 8: In a diplomatic call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi urged India to utilise "all its capacities" to bring an end to the Israeli actions in Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict. "Today, India is expected to use all its capacities to end the Zionist crimes against the oppressed people of Gaza,” President Raisi said according to the Iranian government's official statement on the call.

 

 

 

This comes after the PM spoke to British PM Rishi Sunak and UAE’s Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Friday and discussed the situation arising out of the Israel-Hamas war. Modi has spoken to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority’s President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah-II on the issue in the last one month.

 

The two leaders exchanged views on the "difficult situation" in the West Asia region in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict, as fears of a spillover and further escalation mount.

 

 

The Iranian President also expressed Tehran's support for any global collective efforts aimed at achieving an immediate ceasefire, ending the blockade, and providing aid to the suffering people of Gaza. He underscored the growing global outrage over the continuous loss of life in Gaza and its potential consequences beyond the region.

 

 

"The continuation of the killing of the Palestinian people has infuriated all of the free nations of the world and this killing will have extra-regional consequences," he said. He stressed the legitimate right of Palestinian resistance groups to confront the occupation of the "usurping Zionist regime," calling on all nations to stand behind the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom from oppression.

 

He also held the US accountable for its significant role in supporting the Israeli government through financial, weapons, and intelligence assistance, as well as its use of veto power to thwart the UN Security Council resolutions aimed at halting the conflict in Gaza.

 

 

On his part, PM Modi reiterated India's longstanding and consistent position on the Israel-Palestine issue, a statement from the PMO said. He also stressed the need for preventing escalation, ensuring continued humanitarian aid and early restoration of peace and stability in strife-torn Gaza.

 

The two leaders also reviewed and positively assessed progress in multifaceted bilateral cooperation. "Preventing escalation, ensuring continued humanitarian aid and early restoration of peace and stability are important. Welcomed the progress in our bilateral cooperation, including on the Chabahar port," the Prime Minister said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

 

 

The strategically important Chabahar Port offers an alternative route that bypasses Pakistan, reducing India’s reliance on its neighbour for trade with Afghanistan and beyond. It also offers a gateway to the resource-rich and economically vibrant region of Central Asia.

 

On Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian during which the latter called for a ceasefire in the conflict. The two foreign ministers discussed the concern of the international community and Jaishankar conveyed the importance of preventing escalation and providing humanitarian support, as per his tweet.