Ahmad Adil
19 March 2026•Update: 19 March 2026
NEW DELHI
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reiterated his call for de-escalation in the Middle East in separate phone calls with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, French President Emmanuel Macron and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
After his call with the Omani sultan, Modi said he reiterated New Delhi's "condemnation of the violation of Oman’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” adding India and Oman “stand for safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.”
In separate statements on the US social media company X, Modi said he discussed the situation in the Middle East with Macron and called for “urgent need for de-escalation, as well as a return to dialogue and diplomacy.”
“We look forward to continuing our close coordination to advance peace and stability in the region and beyond,” he said.
On his call with Malaysia’s Ibrahim, Modi said he “discussed the deeply concerning situation” and “reaffirmed our shared commitment to de-escalation and the early restoration of peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy.”
‘Attacks on energy infrastructure deeply disturbing’
Separately, India termed attacks against energy installations at different locations across the region as “deeply disturbing.”
“India had previously called for the avoidance of targeting civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, across the region,” according to a statement Thursday by the Ministry of External Affairs.
New Delhi said the attacks will “only serve to further destabilize an already uncertain energy scenario for the whole world.”
“Such attacks are unacceptable and need to cease,” it said.
Tensions in the Middle East remain high since the US and Israel initiated a large-scale military campaign against Iran, so far killing more than 1,200 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Tehran retaliated, hitting US bases in the Gulf region, and has taken de facto control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies.
An Israeli airstrike targeted the Iranian side of the South Pars gas field Wednesday, halting production at two major refineries. Iran retaliated and targeted energy facilities in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
