What Happened
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the "serious" and escalating situation in West Asia following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that began on 28 February 2026.
- Modi conveyed India's twin priorities: the safety and security of Indian nationals living and working in Iran and across the Gulf region, and the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy through the region's waterways.
- The Prime Minister expressed deep concern about the evolving security situation and reiterated India's consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
- This was among the first high-level bilateral calls reflecting India's diplomatic engagement with Tehran since the conflict erupted, underscoring New Delhi's strategic interest in maintaining open communication with both sides.
Static Topic Bridges
India–Iran Bilateral Relations
India and Iran share civilisational, cultural, and strategic ties stretching back millennia. In the contemporary period, the relationship is shaped by energy trade, connectivity projects, and the large Indian diaspora in the Gulf.
- India was historically one of Iran's largest oil customers; sanctions forced India to reduce purchases after 2019, but India had resumed imports by early 2026.
- Chabahar Port: India is developing the strategic Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province — a critical connectivity project linking India to Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing Pakistan.
- India and Iran signed a 10-year contract in May 2024 for India to operate the Chabahar Port terminal — a rare carve-out from US sanctions.
- Iran is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO); India joined SCO in 2017 — creating a multilateral forum for trilateral engagement.
- Cultural ties: the Persian language influenced Indian literature, architecture (Mughal era), and administrative vocabulary; shared heritage in Zoroastrianism (Parsis in India).
Connection to this news: India's outreach to Tehran was not merely humanitarian — it reflected New Delhi's strategic imperative to protect the Chabahar corridor, energy supply lines, and nearly 10 million Indian workers in the Gulf who remit billions of dollars annually.
Indian Diaspora in West Asia: Scale and Economic Significance
The Gulf region hosts the largest concentration of the Indian diaspora globally, making their safety a core foreign policy priority whenever West Asian conflicts erupt.
- Approximately 8–10 million Indian nationals live and work across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries — Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain — plus Iran.
- Remittances from the Gulf account for a large share of India's total inward remittances, which stood at approximately $120 billion in 2023 (world's highest).
- Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh send the most Gulf workers; remittances significantly impact state economies.
- The Ministry of External Affairs operates the e-Migrate system and the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana to protect Gulf workers.
- During past West Asia conflicts (Iraq 2014, Yemen 2015–present), India conducted large-scale evacuation operations: Operation Rahat (Yemen, 2015) evacuated ~4,741 Indians.
Connection to this news: Modi's emphasis on the safety of Indian nationals in his call with Pezeshkian reflected standard Indian diplomatic practice during regional conflicts — prioritising citizen welfare above geopolitical positioning.
India's Strategic Autonomy and West Asia Policy
India's West Asia policy is characterised by "multi-alignment" — maintaining strong ties with all major actors: Arab states, Iran, Israel, and the US — without formally allying with any.
- India does not have a formal defence alliance with any nation; it participates in issue-based partnerships (Quad, I2U2, SCO).
- India voted to abstain on several UN resolutions critical of Israel during the Gaza conflict (2023–24), balancing its relationships.
- India imports oil from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq (Arab states), and had resumed Iranian imports in 2026 after a years-long pause due to sanctions pressure.
- India's energy security, diaspora safety, and connectivity interests (Chabahar) create a complex matrix requiring engagement with all West Asian parties simultaneously.
- Iran proposed a West Asia security framework during its call with Modi — reflecting Tehran's interest in India as a neutral mediator given New Delhi's ties across the region.
Connection to this news: Modi's diplomatic outreach to the Iranian President exemplified India's multi-alignment approach — maintaining communication with Tehran even as the US (India's Quad partner) conducted military operations against Iran.
Key Facts & Data
- Indian nationals in Gulf + Iran region: approximately 8–10 million.
- India's inward remittances (2023): ~$120 billion — world's largest recipient.
- Chabahar Port: India signed 10-year operations contract for Shahid Beheshti terminal in May 2024.
- Iran's SCO membership: full member since 2023 (India member since 2017).
- West Asia conflict trigger: US and Israeli strikes on Iran, 28 February 2026.
- India's Operation Rahat (Yemen, 2015): evacuated ~4,741 Indian nationals — largest peacetime naval evacuation.
- Iran is located on India's western maritime approach; Chabahar is India's only direct port access to Afghanistan/Central Asia bypassing Pakistan.