NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Saturday stated that Tuesday’s phone call over Iran war was only between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, amid reports that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk also joined the call.“We have seen the story. The telephone conversation on 24 March was between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump only. As has been stated earlier, it provided the opportunity for exchange of views on the situation in West Asia,” MEA Spokesperson, as quoted by ANI.
This comes as an NYT report claimed that Musk took part in a phone call between PM Modi and Trump, an unusual instance of a private citizen joining a discussion involving the top leadership of two countries during an ongoing geopolitical crisis.The talks centred on the evolving situation in West Asia, with both leaders underscoring the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, secure and accessible. The crucial maritime corridor carries a large share of global oil shipments and remains vital to international energy markets.The call came a day after Trump announced a five-day postponement of military strikes on Iranian facilities, a move that raised hopes of an early halt to hostilities. The call also came amid reports that Washington was considering sending Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan for talks with Iranian officials.This was the first conversation between the two leaders since early February, when Trump had announced an agreement on a trade deal and a reduction in tariffs on India from 50 per cent to 18 per cent.In a post on X, PM Modi had said, “Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world.”
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According to an official Indian readout, PM Modi also emphasised that uninterrupted passage through the Strait is crucial for global peace, stability and economic well-being. Separately, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had on Monday discussed the conflict with his US counterpart Marco Rubio, including its potential impact on the global economy and India’s energy security.
