PM Modi, Trump discuss West Asia situation over phone; India backs early restoration of peace

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he had a “useful exchange of views” with US President Donald Trump on the evolving situation in West Asia.

In a post on X, Modi said India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest.

“Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest,” the prime minister said.

He also underlined the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, saying it is essential for the whole world that the narrow waterway "remains open, secure and accessible."

"We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability."

Earlier in the day, making a statement in the Rajya Sabha, the prime minister said the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has continued for over three weeks, has created a “serious fuel issue” globally and disrupted trade routes, affecting supplies of key commodities.

“The war has impacted our trade routes. With this, the routine supply of petrol, diesel, gas and fertilisers has been affected,” he said.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, Modi said several ships from across the world remain stranded in the region, including vessels with a significant number of Indian crew members on board.

“Many ships from around the world are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, and a large number of Indian crew members are on board them, which is also a major concern for India,” he said.

The prime minister said India has been actively engaging with countries in the region, including Iran, Israel and the United States, as well as Gulf nations, to help de-escalate tensions.

“Since the start of the war, I have held two rounds of phone conversations with the heads of state of most countries in West Asia. We are in continuous contact with all the Gulf countries,” he said.

Modi also sought to allay concerns over energy security, stating that India has sufficient crude oil reserves and robust supply arrangements in place.

“I want to assure the country that India has enough crude oil storage and non-stop supply arrangements,” he said, adding that the country is also working on arranging over 65 lakh metric tonnes of gas.