New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24, Tuesday called for a united voice promoting peace and dialogue globally, as the ongoing West Asia conflict disrupts trade, energy supplies and affects the safety of millions of Indians in the Gulf region. Addressing the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi said, “It has been more than 3 weeks since the war in West Asia started. The war has caused a serious energy crisis in the world. For India, too, this situation is concerning. The war has impacted our trade routes. With this, the routine supply of petrol, diesel, gas and fertilisers has been affected”.
The Prime Minister informed that since the outbreak of the war, he has held multiple phone discussions with leaders of the region and confirmed India’s continuous engagement with all Gulf countries, Iran, Israel and the United States. “Around one crore Indians live and work in the Gulf countries and ensuring the safety of their lives and livelihoods is also a major concern for India. Many ships from around the world are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz and a large number of Indian crew members are on board them, which is also a major concern for India. In such a difficult situation, it is necessary that from this Upper House of India’s Parliament, a united voice for peace and dialogue should go out to the entire world”, PM Modi asserted.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha. https://t.co/NAcbZLZq7P
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 24, 2026
The Prime Minister said that India is prioritising the safety of its citizens during the West Asia conflict, noting that over 3,75,000 Indians have been safely evacuated so far, including more than 1,000 from Iran, while urging all sides to seek a peaceful resolution. “Any threat to human life in this war is not in the interest of humanity, so India is making constant efforts to encourage all sides to reach a peaceful solution as soon as possible. In times of crisis, the safety of Indians both in the country and abroad is our top priority. Since the war began, more than 3,75,000 Indians have safely returned to India. From Iran alone, more than 1,000 Indians have returned safely so far, including over 700 young people who were studying medicine. Our government is working with full sensitivity during this time of crisis”, PM Modi said.
“Through diplomacy, India is trying to ensure safe commutation of the country’s ships even in a war situation. India has opted for a solution through dialogue to resolve this issue”, PM Modi further added. The ongoing conflict in West Asia has entered its fourth week, disrupting trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions escalated following the killing of 86-year-old Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on February 28. In retaliation, Iran targeted Israeli and US assets across several Gulf countries, causing further disruptions to the waterway and impacting international energy markets as well as global economic stability.
Meanwhile, as per the latest update, Israeli Media outlet Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was prepared to negotiate with the Americans. Ahrnaooth cited a conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US intermediary Steve Witkoff, which was approved by the highest level in Iran.
India has sufficient oil reserves: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on said that India has sufficient crude oil reserves and robust arrangements for continuous supply amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. He highlighted the expansion of strategic petroleum reserves and increased refining capacity, as global trade through the Strait of Hormuz faces disruptions. Addressing the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi said, “…In the last 11 years, strategic petroleum reserves have been developed to more than 53 lakh metric tonnes and work is underway to expand them to over 65 lakh metric tonnes. Additionally, India’s refining capacity has also been significantly increased in the last decade. I want to assure the House and the country through you that India has adequate crude oil storage and arrangements for continuous supply”.
“The Hormuz Strait is one of the largest routes for global trade. A significant amount of transport related to crude oil, gas and fertilisers takes place through this region. Our endeavour is to ensure that oil and gas supplies reach India from wherever possible. The country is witnessing the results of such efforts. In the past few days, ships carrying crude oil and LPG from several countries have arrived in India. Our efforts in this direction will continue in the coming days as well”, PM Modi said in Rajya Sabha.
Prime Minister said that India has expanded its energy import sources from 27 to 41 countries over the past decade and is working to reduce dependence on any single fuel, while accelerating domestic gas distribution, including piped natural gas and LPG, across the country. “Any crisis tests both our courage and our efforts. To ensure that the country can face such challenges effectively, continuous decisions have been made over the past 11 years. The diversification of energy imports is part of these efforts. Earlier, for energy needs such as crude oil, LNG and LPG, imports were sourced from 27 countries. Today, India imports energy from 41 countries”, he said.
“Our government is making efforts to ensure that we do not have excessive dependence on any one source of fuel. The government is also focusing on PNG, along with LPG, in the domestic gas supply. In the last decade, unprecedented work has been done on PNG connections in the country. In recent days, this work has been further accelerated”, PM Modi affirmed. Prime Minister said that the ongoing conflict has disrupted global economies, causing significant losses and stressed that India is taking continuous measures to limit the impact on the country.
“The current crisis has shaken the economies of the entire world. The losses incurred in West Asia so far will take a long time for the world to recover from. Continuous efforts are being made to ensure that India is minimally affected by this”, PM Modi said. He said that the government has made all necessary preparations to ensure adequate fertiliser availability for farmers during the upcoming sowing season. “I am fully confident that through collective efforts, we will be able to face the situation better. The government is also making efforts to ensure that farmers receive adequate fertilisers during the upcoming sowing season. The government has made necessary preparations to ensure a sufficient supply of fertilisers. The government is continuously striving to ensure that farmers do not bear the burden of any crisis”, PM Modi stated in Rajya Sabha.
(With Inputs from ANI)
