New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Wednesday said he exchanged views on the ongoing West Asia conflict with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
In a post on X, the minister said: “Appreciate the exchange of assessments today with FM Jean-Noël Barrot of France on the West Asia conflict.”
“Look forward to continuing it in person,” he added.
Jaishankar also had a useful discussion with Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission (EC), on the West Asia conflict and its repercussions.
West Asia conflict: Yousef Pezeshkian, an Iranian government adviser and the son of the country’s president, said on Wednesday that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is “safe and sound” despite suffering injuries during the war.
State television earlier described the 56-year-old leader as a “wounded veteran of the Ramadan war” but did not reveal the nature of his injuries, theguardian.com reported.
Meanwhile, two ships were struck by unidentified projectiles in the strategic Strait of Hormuz near Iran. One vessel suffered damage, but its crew remained unharmed. The second ship, identified by the Thai Navy as a Thai bulk carrier, caught fire, and the crew evacuated the vessel. The Thai Navy said rescuers have saved 20 crew members and are trying to locate the remaining three.
US Central Command said it destroyed 16 Iranian vessels involved in laying mines near the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump earlier said there were “no reports” that Iran had placed mines in the strait. He warned that if mines were present, they must be removed “IMMEDIATELY” or Iran would face military consequences “at a level never seen before”.
The Israeli military said it launched a “wide-scale wave” of strikes on targets in Iran and Lebanon. Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces said they hit key command centres of the Iranian armed forces in Tehran and Tabriz. In Lebanon, Israeli attacks killed 84 people on Tuesday, raising the overall death toll to 570 since the conflict began.
The Israeli military also said Iran fired missiles and drones across the Gulf, including toward Israel, and targeted oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said it destroyed five drones heading toward the Shaybah oil field in the Empty Quarter desert. Kuwait said it shot down eight drones over its territory. Bahrain also sounded sirens early Wednesday to warn of an incoming Iranian attack.
