PM Modi and Iranian President Discuss Peace in West Asia and Freedom of Navigation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke on the phone on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, discussing the situation in West Asia. India stressed the need for continued efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region and to safeguard freedom of navigation and commerce.

The conversation took place against the backdrop of concerns over a ceasefire in West Asia following fresh attacks involving the United States and Iran in the preceding days. The two leaders welcomed the progress made in negotiations and the understanding reached between Iran and the United States, and expressed hope that continued efforts would lead to lasting peace.

A central theme of the call was the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping routes for oil and gas. Modi underlined the importance of freedom of navigation in the Hormuz Strait for India and the world. India had earlier faced shortages of oil, gas and fertilisers when the strait was disrupted, and it benefits directly from the safe passage of ships carrying these commodities.

India reiterated its consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. The call also came days after President Pezeshkian invited Modi to attend memorial events for Iran's former Supreme Leader.

The episode highlights India's careful diplomatic balancing in West Asia, a region vital to its energy security and to the millions of Indians who live and work there. As a major oil importer, India has a strong stake in stability around the Strait of Hormuz, and its emphasis on dialogue reflects a long-standing foreign policy of strategic autonomy and non-alignment in regional conflicts.