Iran-Israel-US war: India reacts, urges restraint from all sides involved

India issued its first official reaction to the fast-degenerating situation in West Asia on saturday evening, saying it was deeply concerned over the evelopments in Iran and the broader Gulf region.

"We urge all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritise the safety of civilians. Dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address underlying issues. Sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected," the MEA said in its stament.

"Our Missions in the region are in touch with Indian nationals and have issued appropriate advisories asking them to remain vigilant, stay in contact with the Missions, and follow local security guidance," the ministry added.


Also read: Israel attacks Iran with US' help amid nuclear talks; Tehran hits back with missiles

Israel launched what it described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, with the United States also carrying out attacks, sharply escalating tensions in the Middle East and casting doubt on efforts to secure a diplomatic solution to Tehran’s nuclear standoff with Western powers.

Two U.S. officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity, that American forces had begun a series of strikes on targets inside Iran. The scale of the air and naval operations was not immediately clear. An Iranian official said Tehran was preparing a strong response. Another source indicated that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been relocated from Tehran to a secure location.

The escalation follows a 12-day aerial confrontation in June between Israel and Iran and comes after repeated warnings from Washington and Tel Aviv that additional action would follow if Iran continued to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said the country had begun a pre-emptive operation aimed at removing threats to the state. An Israeli defence official said the operation had been planned for months in coordination with the United States, with the timing finalised weeks in advance.

Iranian media reported blasts in Tehran on Saturday, while sirens were heard across Israel around 8.15 a.m. local time. The Israeli military said the alert was precautionary, intended to prepare civilians for potential incoming missile fire.

Also read: Iran war's oil disruption may have begun; oil majors, traders suspend shipments via Hormuz

Israeli authorities ordered the closure of schools and non-essential workplaces, shut public airspace and halted civilian flights. The airports authority advised citizens against travelling to the country’s airports.

Washington and Tehran had resumed diplomatic engagement in February in an attempt to resolve their long-running dispute and prevent a wider regional conflict.

Israel has consistently argued that any agreement between the U.S. and Iran must go beyond a pause in uranium enrichment and include the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. It has also pressed for curbs on Iran’s missile programme to be incorporated into any deal.

Tehran has said it is willing to discuss limits on its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief but has rejected linking the negotiations to its missile capabilities. It has warned that it would retaliate against any attack and cautioned neighbouring countries hosting U.S. forces that American bases on their soil would be targeted if the United States struck Iran.

In June, the United States joined Israel in attacking Iranian nuclear sites, marking its most direct military action against the Islamic Republic so far. Iran responded by launching missiles at the Al Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest American military facility in the Middle East.