NEW DELHI, Jan 5 - Amid spiralling US-Iran tensions over the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday had a conversation with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif and said India remained deeply concerned about the levels of tension in the region.
Jaishankar noted that developments have taken a �very serious turn�. He also discussed the tense situation with Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf Alawi.
�Just concluded a conversation with FM @JZarif of Iran. Noted that developments have taken a very serious turn. India remains deeply concerned about the levels of tension. We agreed to remain in touch,� the External Affairs Minister tweeted.
Later, Jaishankar tweeted, �Discussed with FM Yusuf Alawi of Oman the tense situation in the region. Reaffirmed our shared interest in the stability and security of the Gulf. Appreciated his perspectives on the current situation.�
Jaishankar�s conversation with Zarif and Alawi comes days after Iran��s top military commander Soleimani was killed in a US strike.
Maj Gen Soleimani, 62, the head of Iran��s elite al-Quds force and architect of its regional security apparatus, was killed when a US drone fired missiles into a convoy that was leaving the Baghdad airport early on Friday. The strike also killed the deputy chief of Iraq�s Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force. Soleimani�s killing was the most dramatic escalation yet in spiralling tensions between Iran and the US.
Reacting to the killing of Iranian commander by the US, India had on Friday said the increase in tension had alarmed the world and asserted that peace, stability and security in the region is of utmost importance to it.
In a statement, the External Affairs Ministry had said India consistently advocated restraint and continued to do so and it was vital that the situation did not escalate further. � PTI
