Did PM Modi Discuss Immediate De-escalation with Iranian President?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- PM Modi emphasized de-escalation and diplomacy.
- U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites escalated tensions.
- Iran condemned the strikes, calling them a violation of international law.
- Israel launched preemptive strikes in response to missile threats.
- Ongoing geopolitical tensions necessitate urgent dialogue.
New Delhi, June 22 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday, emphasizing the urgent need for de-escalation and diplomatic initiatives to bring back regional peace in the Middle East.
“I spoke with President of Iran @drpezeshkian. We thoroughly discussed the current circumstances. I expressed substantial concern regarding the recent escalations. I reiterated our appeal for immediate de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy as the path forward toward the prompt restoration of regional peace, security, and stability,” PM Modi stated in a message on X.
This call for dialogue and diplomacy coincided with a day when the United States targeted three Iranian nuclear sites, eliciting strong reactions from global powers. Iran condemned the U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear facilities, labeling it a “brutal military aggression” and a gross infringement of international law and the UN Charter.
In response to the U.S. airstrikes on nuclear sites including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, Iran urged both the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for immediate intervention.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the U.S. military actions, stating, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran condemns in the strongest terms the brutal U.S. military aggression against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities, committed in blatant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law, and holds the U.S. government accountable for the dangerous repercussions of this grave crime.”
Previously, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) initiated a series of strikes targeting military locations in western Iran following a missile assault from Iran earlier that day.
The IDF announced, “The IAF has begun a series of strikes aimed at military targets in western Iran.”
Moreover, the IAF struck missile launchers that were poised to target Israeli territories, effectively neutralizing the launchers that had recently fired missiles toward Israel,” it added.
Earlier, the IDF indicated that Iran had launched over 30 ballistic missiles at Israel on that Sunday.
Israeli officials argued that their military offensive against Iran was a preemptive strategy to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear capabilities, a goal that Iran has continually denied.