'Contact with Iran's leadership difficult, Indian embassy on high alert', S Jaishankar said on Middle East tensions.

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed concern in the Rajya Sabha over the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Expressing deep concern over the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, S. Jaishankar said that contact with the Iranian leadership has become difficult. He also appealed for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy.

Regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Jaishankar told the House that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally monitoring the situation, and the government's primary focus is on ensuring the safety of more than 10 million Indians stranded there. India is in constant contact globally to prevent this instability.

Dialogue and diplomacy are the only ways.

Amidst sloganeering by opposition MPs, Jaishankar said, "Our government issued a statement on February 20 expressing deep concern and urging all parties to exercise restraint. We still believe that dialogue and diplomacy should be used to de-escalate tensions."

He further said, "The ongoing tensions in the Middle East are a matter of particular concern for India, as over 10 million Indians live and work in the Gulf countries and the region. He also said that the region is crucial for India's energy security and includes several important suppliers of oil and gas. We are a neighboring region, and the stability of West Asia is of utmost importance to us."

The situation is extremely dire

Foreign Minister Jaishankar said, "Ten million Indians live and work in the Gulf countries. A few thousand Indians are also present in Iran for study or employment. The conflict is continuously intensifying, and the security situation in the region has deteriorated significantly. The conflict has spread to other countries, causing massive devastation."

Embassy on high alert

Jaishankar said, "Indian nationals in Iran on business have been assisted in traveling to Armenia and returning to India. Our Embassy in Tehran is fully operational and on high alert. We are committed to supporting the Indian community at this time. The Indian Embassy has assisted in the evacuation of several Indian students living in Tehran."