(Image source from: PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump have talked about the situation in the Middle East and their cooperation during their first phone call since a ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran. The conversation, which took around 40 minutes, highlighted the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz safe and open. PM Modi mentioned in a social media post this evening that India and the US are dedicated to enhancing their strategic partnership across all fields. In the post, he stated, "I received a call from my friend President Donald Trump. We looked over the significant advancements we’ve made in our cooperation in various areas. " He also said, "We are determined to make our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership even stronger in all domains. We talked about the situation in West Asia and the significance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure. " US ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, termed the call as "very positive and productive. " He mentioned that President Trump often shares updates with PM Modi.
"They just finished talking a few moments ago. The president provided information on the events in the Middle East, along with some major matters happening in Washington between the US and India," Gor stated. When asked if India might take part in promoting peace between the US and Iran, Gor answered that Washington would appreciate India's involvement. During their conversation, Trump told PM Modi, "I want you to know that we all care about you," according to news agency PTI. The last time the two leaders spoke was on March 24, when PM Modi expressed India's backing for reducing tensions and restoring peace in the Middle East as soon as possible. They discussed the necessity of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, secure, and available for global access. The US and Iran are currently in a two-week fragile ceasefire while they work towards a second round of discussions after unsuccessful talks in Pakistan over the weekend. The recent conversation between PM Modi and Trump came a day after the US implemented a new blockade of Iranian ports, as Tehran continues to limit ships in the Strait of Hormuz. In another phone call on February 2, the leaders had talked about the progress on the trade deal between the two countries.
