New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (March 12) spoke with Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian for the first time since the West Asia conflict began 12 days ago, raising concerns over the safety of Indian nationals and the uninterrupted flow of goods and energy supplies through the region.In a post on X after the call, Modi said the two leaders discussed the “serious situation in the region” as the conflict between Iran and the US-Israel coalition continues to expand.He said he expressed “deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.”Modi added that “the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India’s top priorities,” while reiterating India’s commitment to peace and stability and urging dialogue and diplomacy.The conversation marks the first leadership level contact between India and Iran since the war began on February 28. It also comes days after external affairs minister S. Jaishankar told parliament on March 9 that reaching Iranian leaders had been difficult during the crisis.“While attempts have been made, contacts with Iran at the leadership level are obviously difficult at this time,” he said on Tuesday (March 10).The Iranian president spoke with several regional leaders on Wednesday (March 11), including the Sultan of Oman, the Russian president and the Pakistani prime minister.Over the last one and half week, Modi has also held conversations with a number of Gulf leaders, including the president of the United Arab Emirates, the Amir of Qatar and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, as well as the rulers of Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Jordan.According to official readouts of those conversations, Modi had condemned the strikes on Gulf countries that Tehran said were aimed at US military assets in the region, though India avoided directly naming Iran.On Wednesday, India had co-sponsored the UN Security Council resolution that condemned Iran’s attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan.External affairs minister S. Jaishankar and Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi have spoken three times since the outbreak of the war, with the latest exchange on March 9 focusing on shipping safety and India’s energy security.The discussions come amid growing uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that links the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and serves as one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes. A significant share of global crude shipments moves through the passage, and much of the oil India imports from Gulf producers such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates travels along this route.India has reportedly sought assurances that tankers carrying fuel destined for India will be able to move safely through the corridor despite the escalating hostilities. So far, however, there has been no indication from Tehran that it has agreed to such an arrangement.The tensions have intensified after Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, signalled that the strait could remain closed as part of Tehran’s pressure campaign against the United States and its allies. In remarks broadcast on Iranian state television on Thursday, he warned that Iran would continue targeting US military installations in the region and could expand the scope of the conflict if the war persists.The situation has already affected vessels and crew operating in the Gulf. Indian authorities said several incidents involving ships in the region had left three Indian seafarers dead and one missing, while others were injured but stable.Officials added that India currently has 28 Indian flagged vessels operating in the Persian Gulf area. Of these, 24 ships carrying 677 Indian crew members are positioned west of the Strait of Hormuz, while four vessels with 101 Indian sailors are located east of the passage. Authorities said all ships and crew are being closely monitored.New Delhi also deplored a recent attack on the bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, which was headed for Kandla port in Gujarat, saying the targeting of civilian shipping was unacceptable amid the conflict.India has also avoided any formal condemnation of the initial US-Israel strikes on Iran, a departure from the country’s earlier posture. When a shorter Israel-Iran exchange occurred last year, India’s positions under the Brazilian BRICS chairmanship had included calling out violations of international law. Under India’s current BRICS chairmanship, the bloc has not issued any joint statement on the conflict.Meanwhile, the government has faced criticism from opposition parties, which accuse New Delhi of leaning too closely towards the US and Israel during the conflict. Critics point to India condemning the strikes on Gulf countries attributed to Iran while avoiding direct criticism of US or Israeli military action against Iranian targets.Congress accused Modi of giving “partisan alignment and tacit approval” to the US-Israel strikes by visiting Israel on February 25 and 26, less than 48 hours before the assault on Iran began.New Delhi formally noted the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei five days after he was killed by US-Israel strikes, with foreign secretary Vikram Misri signing the condolence book in Tehran on behalf of the Indian government. India has also not issued any statement welcoming the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader.Till now, India had not yet condemned the killing of more than 160 schoolgirls in the Iranian town of Minab, an incident widely attributed to US strikes on the first day of the conflictAsked about India’s silence, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “As far as the question of the school children you talked about is concerned … as I have said, we have issued several statements on the ongoing conflict. We have underlined the need for prioritising the safety of all civilians. We regret the precious lives lost and express our grief in that regard.”