S Jaishankar makes big statement in Rajya Sabha on middle east tension, watch the video
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) : Amid ongoing tensions in West Asia, India has allowed the Iranian warship IRIS Lavan to dock at the Kochi port. Iran has expressed its gratitude to India for this. Iran described India's move as "humanitarian." Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar announced this during his address to the Rajya Sabha.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on the evolving situation in the West Asia conflict, Jaishankar said that maintaining high-level contact with Iran has been difficult in the current circumstances, although diplomatic dialogue is continuing through existing channels. The Foreign Minister said, "Although efforts have been made, it is clearly difficult to maintain contact with Iran at the leadership level at this time. However, I have spoken with Foreign Minister Araghchi on February 20, 2026, and March 5, 2026. We will continue these high-level discussions in the coming days."
Video Source- ANI – Sansad tv
During this, he also mentioned the Iranian Navy ship currently docked in Kochi. The Foreign Minister explained the circumstances under which India had allowed the ship to enter the Indian port. This occurred after the sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka. Around the same time, another Iranian Navy ship had contacted India seeking assistance after experiencing technical difficulties while operating in the area.
EAM Jaishankar said, “On February 20, 2026, the Iranian side requested permission for three ships from the region to dock at our port. This was granted on March 1, 2026. The IRIS Lavan actually docked in Kochi on March 4, 2026. The crew is currently at the Indian Naval facility. We believe this is the right thing to do. The Iranian Foreign Minister thanked our country for this humanitarian gesture.” The External Affairs Minister also addressed India's energy security concerns amid the ongoing instability in West Asia and said that while managing the situation, the government has placed the interests of Indian consumers as the “most urgent priority.”
He said, "First, India stands for peace and calls for a return to dialogue and diplomacy. We advocate de-escalation, exercise restraint, and ensure the safety of civilians. Second, the well-being and security of the Indian community in the region is our priority. We will continue to work with the governments in the region in this direction." Concluding his address to the Rajya Sabha, EAM Jaishankar said, "Ultimately, our national interests, including energy security and trade, will always remain paramount."