Amidst ongoing high-level diplomatic exchanges, Foreign Affairs Luminary S. Jaishankar is slated to embark on a diplomatic journey to Iran on January 14 and 15. This move occurs against the backdrop of escalating tensions fueled by the Red Sea assaults orchestrated by Houthi insurgents. The Houthis, an Iran-aligned faction, had pledged to target vessels affiliated with Israel or destined for Israeli ports as a demonstration of solidarity with Hamas during the Gaza conflict. It’s noteworthy that several of the targeted vessels had no discernible ties to Israel.
As disclosed by the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement released this Saturday, Jaishankar is scheduled to convene with Iran’s Foreign Minister, H.E. Dr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The agenda encompasses dialogues on bilateral, regional, and global matters, with emphasis on political collaboration, connectivity initiatives, and robust interpersonal connections.
Earlier revelations from ABP Live indicate that the External Minister may also delve into the evolving circumstances in the Red Sea post the joint offensive by the US and the UK against Houthi rebels supported by Tehran. The Houthi insurgent activities, targeting merchant vessels following the Israel-Hamas conflict, compelled the Indian Navy to deploy warships in the Arabian Sea.
During the sojourn, EAM Jaishankar is anticipated to pay a visit to Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi. The mounting tensions pose the potential for a new front in an open conflict, this time in the high seas, which carry vital global trade routes, as relayed by high-level sources to ABP LIVE on the condition of anonymity.
Jaishankar’s visit follows closely on the heels of his conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who reportedly apprised India of the Thursday attacks. The discussions during the phone call with Blinken included the impending visit to Tehran by the External Affairs Minister, according to sources.
The United States had declared joint coalition strikes in Houthi-controlled regions of Yemen. In a statement from the White House, President Joe Biden affirmed, “U.S. military forces – in collaboration with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands – successfully executed strikes against several targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to jeopardize freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways.”
Jaishankar also engaged in a telephonic exchange with Australian counterpart Penny Wong. Sources suggest that India, maintaining amicable relations with both Tehran and Washington, contemplates assuming a mediating role to quell rising tensions in the ocean waters. Such a role would necessitate New Delhi to deploy its strategically positioned assets in the Indian Ocean region. Iraj Elahi, the Ambassador of Iran to India, has already arrived in Tehran to facilitate the upcoming visit.