Iran Dismiss any Suggestion to Return to Diplomacy
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, June 22: In the wake of the US bombardment of Iranian nuclear facilities, Iran on Sunday dismissed any suggestion that Tehran would re-join diplomatic talks under current conditions.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, “We were in the middle of diplomacy. We were in the middle of talks with the United States when Israelis blew it up. Negotiations with European interlocutors were ongoing in Geneva just two days prior to the US strikes. And again, this time, Americans decided to blow it up. So it was not Iran, but the US who betrayed diplomacy. They betrayed negotiations.”
Iran’s top diplomat asserted that the Trump administration had effectively disqualified itself from any future peace initiatives. “They have proved that they are not men of diplomacy, and they only understand the language of threat and force. And this is very unfortunate,” Mr Araghchi said.
India so far has maintained a stance of neutrality citing close ties with both Israel and Iran. On June 13, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed deep concern over the situation and reports of attacks on nuclear facilities. It urged both sides to refrain from further escalation and called for the use of existing diplomatic channels to resolve tensions.
Emphasising its close and friendly ties with both Israel and Iran, India stated that it stands ready to offer any possible support. The government also confirmed that Indian missions in both countries were in touch with local communities and advised Indian nationals to remain cautious and follow local security advisories.
India has remained primarily focused on the safety of its diaspora. The Indian Embassy in Israel issued a fresh advisory, urging Indian nationals to remain cautious and adhere to safety instructions.
In a post on X, the embassy stated: “In view of the current situation in Iran, all Indian nationals & persons of Indian origin in Iran are requested to remain vigilant, avoid all unnecessary movements, follow the Embassy’s Social Media accounts & observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities.”
With over 85 per cent of its crude oil imported, much of it sourced through or near the Gulf, India is acutely vulnerable to disruptions in energy supply and pricing. Any military escalation in the region — especially near critical shipping lanes like the Strait of Hormuz — risks pushing up oil prices, widening India’s current account deficit, and fuelling imported inflation.
Beyond energy, the conflict could strain India’s balancing act in West Asia. While India has deepening strategic ties with Israel, it also relies on Iran for regional connectivity, particularly through the Chabahar port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). A prolonged conflict could complicate both diplomatic engagement and logistics on that front.
Most critically, instability in West Asia also threatens the safety of over nine million Indians working across the Gulf region, making regional peace not just a foreign policy priority but a domestic imperative.
Mr Araghchi, who is visiting Moscow, told media persons on the sidelines of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul, that the consultations with the Russian president Vladimir Putin would take place on Monday morning. The move comes in the immediate aftermath of the US targeting three key Iranian nuclear sites, in what Washington has described as a “necessary step” to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “Russia is a friend of Iran, we always consult with each other,” Araghchi told reporters. “I’m going to Moscow this afternoon for serious consultations with the Russian president tomorrow morning.”
In Moscow, Dmitry Medvedev, ex-Russia president and the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, launched an attack on President Trump, accusing him of plunging the US into a new war in the Middle East. Medvedev published his reaction on Telegram, stating bluntly, “Trump, who came in as a peacemaker president, has started a new war for the U.S.”
The former Russian president questioned the effectiveness of the US operation, saying it had failed to achieve any substantial military objectives. “Critical infrastructure of the nuclear fuel cycle appears to have been unaffected or sustained only minor damage,” he wrote. “The enrichment of nuclear material – and now we can say it outright, the future production of nuclear weapons – will continue.”
Mr Medvedev claimed that “a number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads.” He did not identify which nations he was referring to. Mr Medvedev further stated that the Israeli population was now living under constant threat, with explosions rocking multiple parts of the country. “The US is now entangled in a new conflict, with prospects of a ground operation looming on the horizon,” he added.
He also suggested that the attacks had politically strengthened Iran. “Iran’s political regime has survived – and in all likelihood, has come out even stronger. The people are rallying around the country’s spiritual leadership, including those who were previously indifferent or opposed to it.”
