External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar stated that the government is closely monitoring the emerging developments in West Asia, and relevant ministries are coordinating to ensure an effective response. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha regarding the situation in West Asia, Dr. Jaishankar said that given the severity of the situation, the government is working to ensure that the security and safety of citizens are protected. He stated that the government believes that dialogue and diplomacy are being pursued to de-escalate the situation in the region. He also said that India had warned residents in Iran in January 2026 to avoid non-essential travel to Iran, and residents were asked to register with the Indian Embassy and exercise caution.
He further stated that the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was concerned about the conflict and the difficulties faced by Indians in the region. The Minister added that Prime Minister Modi is continuing to closely monitor the developments and noted that all ministers were directed to take appropriate measures to address this issue. He informed the House that Mr. Modi had spoken to the heads of state of the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Israel, and Bahrain, urging them to ease the situation.
EAM Jaishankar stated that there are almost one crore Indian citizens who live and work in the Gulf nations. He said that the region is important for energy security, oil and gas supply, and the Gulf region is a major trading partner for India, accounting for almost 200 billion dollars annually. He said that the conflict also affects marine shipping, where Indians constitute a large part of the crews. The External Affairs Minister said that the conflict has continued to intensify, and the security situation in the region has deteriorated. He said that the conflict has spread to other countries with mounting destruction and normal life and activities are visibly affected.
Dr. S Jaishankar stated that the Indian Embassy has facilitated the relocation of several Indian students in Tehran and Indian nationals in Iran on business to cross over to Armenia to return to India. He further added that the Indian Embassy in Tehran remains fully operational and on high alert. The Minister added that almost 67,000 of Indian nationals have crossed international borders to return, and every effort is being made to bring back people from West Asia.