New Delhi (India) April 15:The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and US President, Donald Trump, held a nearly 40-minute phone call-the first conversation between the two leaders since the U.S-Iran ceasefire.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor told reporters during this period that ties between the two nations are going strong, highlighting that bilateral relations are very friendly.
Modi Calls Trump His Friend on X
Modi wrote in an X post after their conversation he had a phone call from my friend President Donald J. Trump today.
He posted, “Received a call from my friend President Donald Trump. We reviewed the substantial progress achieved in our bilateral cooperation in various sectors. We are committed to further strengthening our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership in all areas. We also discussed the situation in West Asia and stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure."
Both leaders also spoke of the significance of the continued free movement of ships in the Strait of Hormuz during their 40-minute conversation. This is coming after the US President Sunday imposed a blockade on ships entering or leaving ports and coastal regions in the Gulf region of Iran. The US also declared that any Iranian ships breaching the blockade will be destroyed.
Chat After Failed Iran Peace Talks
The call was made just after the US and Iran failed to reach a deal over a fragile two-week ceasefire after nearly 21 hours of direct talks in Islamabad on Saturday and Sunday, uncertainty once again looming over the conflict between both nations. No breakthrough was made as both nations put the blame on each other for failing to find common ground.
US officials indicated that the talks collapsed as Iran did not agree to giving up its nuclear program while Iran said that the US blocked the negotiations without elaborating what they were unable to agree on.
Third Modi-Trump Call This Year
The conversation between the leaders came amid increased hostility in the Middle East after the breaking off of US-Iran talks on peace. This was the third conversation between Trump and Modi this year and their second since the tension in the West East escalated after US and Israel conducted bombings of Iran on February 28. Modi and Trump spoke earlier this year on Feb 2 when they had both announced significant development regarding a trade deal and again on March 24 where they had a discussion over the events transpiring in the Middle East.