New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (March 2) spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, condemning the recent missile and drone attacks on the Kingdom’s territory while stopping short of naming Iran, even as New Delhi has yet to issue any statement on the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.In a post on X, Modi said he discussed the “evolving situation in West Asia” with the Saudi crown prince and prime minister and “[condemned] the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia in violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity”. He added that both leaders agreed that the “earliest restoration of regional peace and stability is of utmost importance” and thanked Riyadh for looking after the Indian community “in these difficult times”.However, a readout published by the Saudi Press Agency was more explicit, stating that the Indian prime minister expressed his country’s “firm rejection of the blatant Iranian attacks against the Kingdom” and affirmed solidarity with Saudi Arabia against actions threatening its sovereignty and the safety of its citizens.The call was placed between Modi’s other conversations with the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and with Abdullah II of Jordan, as Iranian missile and drone strikes targeted US military assets and strategic sites across the Gulf in retaliation for coordinated US-Israeli attacks on Iran which began on February 28.In his post on the conversation with Bahrain’s monarch, Modi said India “condemns the attacks on Bahrain and stands in solidarity with its people in this difficult hour”, thanking the king for the “steadfast support extended to the Indian community in Bahrain”.Bahrain has labelled the strikes a violation of its sovereignty and said it intercepted dozens of missiles and drones. Iranian projectiles reportedly struck areas near Manama, including sites associated with the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, as well as parts of the capital and port facilities. Bahraini authorities have reported material damage and limited casualties, with injuries from falling debris and at least one fatality linked to port infrastructure, while maintaining that most incoming threats were neutralised.In Jordan, which has also condemned the Iranian retaliation as unjustified, air defence systems intercepted drones and missiles that crossed its airspace, with falling debris causing minor injuries. In his call with King Abdullah, Modi conveyed “deep concern at the evolving situation in the region” and reaffirmed support for “peace, security and the well-being of the people of Jordan”. He again thanked the Jordanian leadership for taking care of the Indian community.Saudi Arabia has described the strikes on Riyadh and the Eastern Province as blatant and vowed to take necessary measures in response. While much of the incoming fire was intercepted, energy infrastructure in the Eastern Province reportedly suffered limited disruption. Riyadh has raised its military readiness amid fears of further escalation.The flurry of calls follows Modi’s earlier conversations with leaders of the UAE and Israel, in which he condemned attacks on Emirati territory and urged an early end to hostilities in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As in those exchanges, India’s public statements have emphasised sovereignty, territorial integrity and the safety of civilians, while calling for dialogue and de-escalation.At a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on March 2, Modi said India supports the resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy and would continue working with countries in West Asia to ensure the safety of Indians in the region.Despite Tehran’s confirmation of Khamenei’s death in the initial US-Israeli strikes, there is still no sign of a separate Indian statement addressing his killing. The Ministry of External Affairs has so far confined itself to general appeals for restraint and dialogue.The conflict has placed India’s sizable diaspora in the Gulf directly in the line of risk. Saudi Arabia hosts over 2.5 million Indians, Bahrain around 325,000 and Jordan more than 150,000, many employed in construction, oil and gas, services and trade.Indian missions in Riyadh, Manama and Amman have issued advisories urging nationals to exercise caution, follow local instructions and remain in contact with embassies. In Jordan, the mission advised Indians to consider leaving before commercial flights are disrupted by airspace closures.So far, there have been no confirmed reports of Indian nationals killed in the strikes in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain or Jordan. However, flight cancellations and temporary airspace shutdowns have disrupted travel, stranding passengers and heightening anxiety across expatriate communities. The Indian embassy in Oman has reported the first Indian casualty, with a sailor killed aboard a tanker hit by a drone.