The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday stressed the necessity of de-escalation in West Asia, while raising concerns about the safety of Indian nationals in Gulf countries as the conflict in the region spreads.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated on Saturday after joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran subsequently launched retaliatory strikes on US military installations and other sites in Gulf countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait, leading to a widening of the conflict.
In a statement, the ministry said there were almost one crore Indian citizens living and working in the Gulf region. “Their safety and well-being is of utmost priority. We cannot be impervious to any development that negatively affects them,” the MEA said.
“As a proximate neighbour with critical stakes in the security and stability of the region, these developments evoke great anxiety,” it added.
The ministry further “firmly opposed” attacks on merchant shipping, stating that some Indian nationals had already lost their lives or are missing “as a result of such attacks in the last few days.”
The statement comes after one Indian mariner was killed onboard the crude oil tanker ‘MKD VYOM’ after it was hit by a drone boat off the Oman coast.
Call for Dialogue and Early End to Conflict
India reiterated its call for “dialogue and diplomacy,” and said it was “in favour of an early end to the conflict.” The government also said it was in touch with governments in the conflict-affected region as well as key partners. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have spoken to their counterparts.
“We had expressed our deep concern at the commencement of the conflict in Iran and the Gulf region on 28 February 2026. Even at that time, India had urged all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation and prioritize the safety of civilians,” the MEA said.
The ministry described it as unfortunate that the situation had deteriorated “significantly and continuously” during Ramadan.
“In recent days, we have not only witnessed an intensification of the conflict but also its spread to other nations. The destruction and deaths have mounted, even as normal life and economic activities come to a halt,” the statement said.
Embassies in Regular Contact with Indian Nationals
The MEA said Indian embassies and consulates in the region were in regular contact with Indian nationals and were issuing frequent advisories.
“They have also extended all possible help to those stranded by the conflict. The Embassies and Consulates will continue to be proactive in addressing various consular aspects of this conflict,” the ministry added.