New Delhi: India confirmed on March 12 that it co-sponsored the UN Security Council resolution that condemned Iran’s attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan, saying the text reflected several of its positions and that protecting its large diaspora in the Gulf and ensuring its energy security were among its considerations.The Security Council adopted Resolution 2817 on Wednesday with 13 votes in favour, none against, and abstentions by permanent members China and Russia. The resolution was led by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council, comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Jordan. The text had 135 co-sponsors, which is reported to be the largest number ever for a UNSC resolution.“We have co-sponsored the GCC-led resolution at the UN Security Council,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said at the weekly briefing in response to a question. “We have 135 countries who have co-sponsored this particular resolution. The resolution reflects several of our positions. As you know that we have a large diaspora in the GCC countries and their well-being and welfare is of utmost importance. The Gulf is also very important for our energy security needs.”The resolution condemned “in the strongest terms” Iran’s attacks against those seven countries, determined that the attacks constituted a breach of international law and a serious threat to international peace and security, and demanded their immediate cessation. It also condemned any actions or threats by Iran aimed at closing, obstructing or interfering with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The text did not reference the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that triggered the conflict on February 28.Iran’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, called the resolution “a manifest injustice against my country.” He said its adoption was “a serious setback to the Council’s credibility” and accused the United States, as Council President, of abusing its position and obstructing efforts to end the conflict.Russia, which along with China abstained on Resolution 2817, separately put forward a draft resolution calling on all parties to immediately stop military activities. That text, which did not name any party to the conflict, was rejected by the Council on Wednesday, receiving only four votes in favour, from China, Pakistan, Russia and Somalia, against two votes against from Latvia and the United States, and nine abstentions.India’s decision to co-sponsor the resolution is consistent with the position it has taken since the conflict began. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned Iran’s missile strikes on the UAE shortly after they began, without naming Iran, during a phone call with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on March 2. He separately spoke with Gulf leaders and similarly condemned the strikes on their territory.India has not issued any statement on the US-Israeli strikes on Iran that started the conflict, nor on the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the initial strikes on February 28. India’s Foreign Secretary signed the condolence book at the Iranian embassy after it opened, five days after Khamenei’s death. India has also not issued any statement on the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader.Asked about civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict, including the deaths of school children, the spokesperson directed to statements India had already issued. “We have issued statements dated 28th February, on 3rd March, and thereafter External Affairs Minister also made a suo motu statement in the parliament where he has dealt with some of the issues that you referred to,” the spokesperson said. Till now, India has not issued any statement on the February 28 strike on a girls’ school in Iran’s Minab that killed more than 160 people, mostly children, and which investigations indicate was likely carried out by the US military.On the specific question of school children, the spokesperson said India had issued several statements on the ongoing conflict and “underlined the need for prioritising the safety of all civilians.” “We regret the precious lives lost and express our grief in that regard,” the spokesperson said.