Kamal Ghorui
External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday held a telephonic converstaion with his counterpart Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar. Sharing the details of the conversation, Jaishankar said that the talks “covered different aspects of the West Asia situation.”In a message shared on social media, Sa’ar described the exchange as “a good conversation”, saying the two sides discussed regional developments, including Lebanon and ongoing concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme. He backed a firm US negotiating position, arguing that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons—through measures such as banning enrichment and removing stockpiles—was critical for global security.Sa’ar also raised concerns over what he called “economic terrorism” by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that threats to shipping required international action to safeguard freedom of navigation. He added that such steps were essential not only for Israel but also for countries like India and Gulf partners dependent on the route.The conversation comes amid a rapidly worsening regional situation following a move by Donald Trump to impose a blockade on Iranian ports. The measure, which took effect earlier this week, includes efforts to halt maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—a critical artery that carries roughly 20 per cent of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.The diplomatic outreach follows Jaishankar’s recent visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he met President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to strengthen cooperation in energy and trade.
