Israeli envoy says India can help de escalate tensions with Iran

Amid rising hostilities between Israel and Iran, Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar on Saturday acknowledged India’s unique position and expressed hope that New Delhi could act as a potential mediator in the region. The statement came a day after a crucial phone call 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,” Ambassador Azar stated.The remarks come at a time of intense geopolitical tension in West Asia, with Israel and Iran exchanging military strikes. Ambassador Azar said Netanyahu briefed PM Modi on what he described as Israel’s "defensive actions" taken to counter Iran’s growing nuclear capabilities and its expanding ballistic missile program.“No country in the world is interested in this kind of situation,” Azar said, asserting that Israel had “no choice” but to act decisively.

He accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons with the intention to “exterminate” Israel—an ambition allegedly supported by the repeated rhetoric of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.“We had to remove an imminent threat and took decisive action against their nuclear installations and ballistic missiles,” Azar stated, underscoring Iran’s alleged plans to build a vast stockpile of ballistic missiles—10,000 in the next three years and 20,000 over the next six.According to the envoy, Iran’s growing missile arsenal is creating a “ring of fire” around Israel, threatening its security from multiple fronts. “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,” he said.Azar further emphasized that Israel's military actions aim to prevent Iran from enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels.

"We are determined to achieve this goal—diplomatically or militarily,” he said.He cited U.S. President Donald Trump’s 60-day negotiation ultimatum, claiming Israel acted only after Iran failed to meet its obligations. “Iran has been cheating the international community,” Azar alleged.On the issue of targeted killings of Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists, Azar said these actions were aimed at disrupting a “criminal plot” designed to eliminate Israel. “Those responsible for this plan of destruction have been taken out. We hope their successors will learn the lesson and stop this course of action,” he stated.