External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday stated that 67,000 Indian nationals have returned safely from the Gulf amid rising tensions in West Asia, acknowledging the cooperation of host nations in ensuring their safety.

In a Rajya Sabha address on the regional situation, Jaishankar highlighted Iran’s appreciation for India’s facilitation of the Iranian warship IRIS Lavan at Kochi port, despite challenges in high-level communication. He confirmed holding calls with Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi on February 20 and March 5, 2026, and said further discussions are planned.

The IRIS Lavan, which faced technical issues near the sinking of IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka, requested docking on February 20, received approval on March 1, and docked on March 4. Jaishankar said the crew is now at Indian naval facilities, adding that Tehran had expressed gratitude for the support.

On energy security, a key concern given West Asia’s role in supplying India’s oil and gas, Jaishankar emphasized prioritizing Indian consumers. He outlined three guiding principles for India’s regional approach: promoting peace through dialogue and de-escalation, safeguarding the Indian community abroad, and protecting national interests such as energy and trade.

Separately, Leader of the House J.P. Nadda criticized the Opposition for disrupting proceedings, accusing them of prioritizing “chaos and rowdiness” over national issues. He referred to their walkouts during debates on electoral reforms, space programs, Operation Sindoor, the Pahalgam terror incident, the Waqf Bill, and the 2026-27 Union Budget.