India's Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep concern over joint Israel-US military strikes on Iran, calling for dialogue and diplomatic de-escalation. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar contacted regional counterparts including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Israel to emphasize India's position on restraint. The Indian embassy in Tehran has advised all nationals to leave Iran immediately as regional tensions disrupt air travel and threaten civilian safety.
The Middle East escalation follows months of rising tensions between Iran and Western powers. Negotiations between the US and Iran over nuclear enrichment concluded in Geneva on February 27, 2026 without agreement, creating a diplomatic vacuum. Iran has faced internal instability since January 2026, with anti-regime protests driven by sanctions-induced inflation and economic collapse. The US maintains 8 persistent military bases and 11 additional sites across the Middle East, according to a 2024 Congressional Research Service report. This military presence underpins Washington's regional security strategy and has historically triggered Iranian retaliation cycles.
On February 28, 2026, Israel and the US launched Operation 'Lion's Roar,' a major joint military strike against Iran targeting political officials and senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders. The strikes killed at least 51 civilians at a girls' school in Minab, Hormozgan province. Iran responded with counterattacks on US regional allies—the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar personally telephoned Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi, and Israeli FM Gideon Sa'ar to communicate India's position favouring dialogue and de-escalation. The MEA issued an official statement demanding restraint, respect for sovereignty, and civilian protection.
The escalation directly threatens 1.2 million Indian nationals across the Middle East and Iran. India suspended all commercial flights through Middle Eastern airspace, disrupting connectivity for Indian diaspora and businesses. Oil prices, critical to India's ₹20 trillion energy import bill, face volatility—a $10/barrel spike adds ₹1.4 lakh crore to annual costs. The Iranian rupee collapsed 40% against the dollar since January, threatening Indians with rupee-denominated contracts worth ₹8,000 crore in bilateral trade. Additionally, the conflict destabilizes India's energy security (Iran supplies 8-10% of crude imports) and strains India's balancing act between its Iran relationship and US strategic partnership.
The Indian embassy in Tehran has mandated all nationals to evacuate by all available means—no specific deadline given, indicating urgency. Commercial flights remain suspended; evacuation may depend on special corridors negotiated with regional allies. Iran's Supreme Leader will likely address the nation by March 2, signalling escalation or de-escalation intent. The UN Security Council is expected to convene within 48 hours. India will monitor these diplomatic channels while issuing updated advisories for its 1.2 million nationals. If strikes continue, India may trigger Operation Ganga-style airlifts from Tehran and Gulf states by early March 2026.