'Urgent Need For De-Escalation': PM Modi Speaks To French President Macron On West Asia Conflict

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on the urgent need for dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Modi emphasized continued coordination with France to ensure regional peace and stability. Macron condemned the escalation after Iran struck Gulf energy sites and urged direct US-Iran talks, though Tehran criticized his stance for not addressing Israeli and American actions. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that engagement by leaders like Modi and Macron is vital to reducing tensions and supporting global stability. Congress MP Manish Tewari highlighted that the movement of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz depends on insurance and war-risk premiums, not military options, underlining the conflict’s broader economic implications.