External affairs minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday spoke to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian over the telephone amid the escalation of tension in West Asia.
Apart from discussing the situation in the region following Israel’s bombing of the Iranian diplomatic mission in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on April 1, Jaishankar also raised the issue regarding the release of 17 Indian crew members of the cargo vessel MSC Aries which is in Iran’s custody.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp captured the container ship bearing a Portuguese flag on Saturday as it is owned by an Israeli businessman. Iran had vowed to avenge the bombing of its Damascus mission and fear of escalation of tensions has forced several countries including India to issue travel advisories.
“Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries. Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy...,” Jaishankar posted on X.
US response
US President Joe Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US would not participate in any Israeli counter-offensive against Iran, a White House official said on Sunday.
In a statement issued late on Saturday following the attacks, Biden said he told Netanyahu that Israel had “demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks”.
Biden did not say if he and Netanyahu discussed a possible Israeli response or potential US involvement.
Additional reporting by Reuters.
