New Delhi: Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has urged India to consider playing a diplomatic role in easing tensions between the United States and Iran, calling for an immediate ceasefire as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies.
Speaking in an interview, Stubb suggested that New Delhi could help facilitate dialogue between the two sides. He pointed to recent remarks by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who has repeatedly called for de escalation and diplomatic engagement to stabilise the situation.
The Finnish leader said a ceasefire was urgently needed to calm rising hostilities and indicated that India’s diplomatic outreach could help create space for negotiations.
India has recently intensified its diplomatic engagement with Tehran as the conflict continues to evolve. Jaishankar held another round of phone discussions with Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi to review the latest developments and assess the regional situation.
During the conversation, the Iranian minister described the conflict as a result of attacks by the United States and Israel, while asserting that Iran would exercise what it considers its right to self defence. He also warned that the situation could have wider regional and global consequences.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also spoken with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing concern over the growing violence and civilian casualties. During the conversation, Modi emphasised that the safety of Indian nationals and the uninterrupted movement of energy supplies and trade routes remain key priorities for New Delhi.
Despite heightened tensions, India has continued to safeguard its energy and shipping interests. Indian flagged vessels are still transiting the strategic Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.
The waterway carries nearly a fifth of global oil and natural gas shipments, making its stability critical for international energy markets. With tensions affecting maritime movement in the region, India has been working through diplomatic channels to ensure safe navigation and maintain energy supply lines.
