Middle East crisis: Jaishankar holds fourth call with Iranian FM Araghchi since war began, discusses bilateral ties

NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday held his fourth phone conversation with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.In a post on X, Jaishankar said that the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and issues related to the BRICS grouping. “Had another conversation with Iranian FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi yesterday night. Discussed bilateral matters as also BRICS-related issues,” he wrote.The latest interaction follows a series of recent calls between the two ministers since the outbreak of the conflict in the region on February 28. Earlier this week, both leaders discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping passage for global energy supplies. During that conversation, Jaishankar emphasised the importance of ensuring safe merchant shipping through the waterway, which connects the Persian Gulf to global trade routes.According to a readout from Iran’s foreign ministry, the two sides also discussed the impact of the ongoing conflict on maritime traffic in the region.The Iranian side said that the instability affecting shipping in the Persian Gulf was the result of “aggressive and destabilising actions” by the United States and called on the international community to hold Washington accountable.Iran’s foreign ministry said Araghchi also raised concerns about the consequences of US and Israeli military actions on regional stability and maritime security.Jaishankar, meanwhile, stressed the importance of maintaining and strengthening bilateral ties between New Delhi and Tehran. He also highlighted the need for continued consultations to help restore stability in the region.