Israel-Iran tensions: Israeli envoy expresses optimism about India’s potential to mediate
The Hindu
Israel's Ambassador to India discusses India's potential role in mediating Israel-Iran tensions, highlighting Iran's nuclear threat.
Israel's Ambassador to India Reuven Azar on Saturday (June 14, 2025) expressed optimism about India’s potential to mediate in the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran following a telephonic conversation between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"India has avenues for dialogue with both sides. It can indeed play a role. We are happy to have this sincere dialogue with India, which is a very good friend... We listen carefully to your concerns. I think they are legitimate," Mr. Azar said in an interview with PTI Videos.
Israel-Iran conflict LIVE: Iran launches fresh wave of attacks on Israel
The remarks came amid heightened tensions in West Asia, with both Israel and Iran launching strikes against each other. Mr. Netanyahu called Prime Minister Modi on Friday (June 13, 2025) to brief him on Israel's actions, which the Ambassador described as defensive measures to counter an "existential threat" posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions and ballistic missile programme.
"No country in the world is interested in this kind of situation," Mr. Azar said, emphasising that Israel had "no choice" but to act decisively. He claimed that a clandestine group of Iranian officials was attempting to develop nuclear weapons, with the intent to "exterminate" Israel, as repeatedly stated by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
"We had to remove an imminent threat and took decisive action against their nuclear installations and ballistic missiles," Mr. Azar said, noting Iran's "plans" to build a massive arsenal of ballistic missiles in the coming years.
"They are planning to build 10,000 ballistic missiles in the next three years, and 20,000 in the next six years. They have a huge arsenal, which creates this ring of fire against Israel. They can attack us from the Southern Front, so we had no choice but to act on this nuclear threat, and we are determined to finish the job," the Ambassador emphasised.
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