S Jaishankar To Go To Iran After Houthi Attacks On Merchant Ships In Red Sea, Likely To Discuss Israel-Gaza Conflict

India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will be going to Iran in a couple of days. The plan is to meet Iranian leadership to discuss issues such as attacks on merchant ships by Houthi rebels and the Israel-Gaza war.

Last night (11 January), US-UK forces attacked Houthi military positions in South Yemen. Earlier, Jaishankar had discussed "maritime security challenges, especially the Red Sea region" with US Secretary Antony Blinken.

The two leaders also affirmed their maritime cooperation in the region. Further, the two leaders also discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict, efforts to prevent the conflict’s escalation and increase the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. 

According to Hindustan Times, Jaishankar is expected to meet his counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahain. He will also try to call on Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi after recent twin explosions in Iran that further increased tensions in the Middle-East.

Notably, Raisi had blamed US and Israel for these blasts and wrote on X, "Washington says USA and Israel had no role in the terrorist attack in Kerman, Iran. Really? A fox smells its own lair first."

Since India has good relations with both US and Israel, Jaishankar's visit could also ease the tensions. On the sidelines of Vibrant Gujarat Summit, when PM Modi met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayaed al Nahyan, he was part of this delegation.

He is also likely to discuss the North-South Trade Corridor that goes through Chabahar port in Iran and the security situation in the Caucuses with the ongoing Azerbaijan-Armenian conflict.

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