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Amid escalating maritime and geopolitical friction across the Gulf, the Ambassador of Iran to India, Mohammad Fathali, has assured New Delhi that the safety and security of all Indian expatriates living and working in West Asia remains a paramount priority for Tehran.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Ambassador Fathali addressed growing domestic anxieties regarding the safety of hundreds of thousands of Indian citizens stationed throughout the volatile West Asian theatre. "The security and peace of all nations in the region, including Indian citizens working and living in West Asia, are highly important to us," the Envoy promised. He underscored that maintaining the free flow of commerce through the Persian Gulf is an absolute necessity for international trade, adding, "Stability and security in the Persian Gulf will benefit all countries in the region and their economic partners, including India." Fathali noted that both ancient trading partners possess unique, market-complementing advantages across energy, multi-modal transportation corridors, and maritime trade that must be aggressively co-developed. Ambassador Fathali highly praised India's positioning as a balanced global stabiliser and key driver of multipolar diplomacy, emphasising that a peaceful Persian Gulf directly shields the massive economic stakes of both nations. Ambassador Fathali highlighted the deep strategic and institutional alignments between New Delhi and Tehran, pointing to the expanding footprint of the BRICS alliance as a primary vehicle for regional mediation. "As a major global power and an influential member of the BRICS group, India plays an important role in strengthening multilateralism, supporting dialogue, and helping to reduce international tensions," Fathali stated. "The recent visit of the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran to India to participate in the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting was very positive and constructive, demonstrating that both countries have a serious will to continue close consultations and cooperation." The Ambassador's diplomatic outreach to India stands in stark contrast to Tehran's deepening mistrust of ongoing backchannel negotiations with Washington over regional settlement terms. Fathali's comments directly mirror a hardline stance broadcast by Iran's Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Speaking to Al Jazeera as peace talks drag on, Ghalibaf sent a stern reminder to Western negotiators that Iran is finished relying on diplomatic paperwork: "In negotiations with the US, we have no trust in guarantees or words; only actions are the measure." While Tehran continues to hold a rigid line against Western pressure, Ambassador Fathali reiterated that Iran intends to keep its historic, civilizational diplomatic channels with New Delhi fully open, welcoming India's stabilising voice on the world stage. (ANI)
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