Kazan, Russia:

With the conflict in West Asia escalating significantly after Israel and Iran threatened each other of an endless series of retaliations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Russia on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in the city of Kazan.

India has expressed “deep concern” over the current situation in West Asia and has been calling for “dialogue and diplomacy” to de-escalate the tension in the region also known as the Middle East.

The meeting between the two leaders came amid the year-long Israel-Hamas war and the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, and after Iran’s ballistic missile offensive against Israel led to Tel Aviv vowing a massive retaliation.

INDIA’S ATTEMPT TO BROKER PEACE

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasised the need for peace in the region and the “role that New Delhi could play in de-escalating the Middle East crisis,” given its good relations with all the parties involved.

India, which has friendly relations with almost all nations, finds itself in a unique position to be able to mediate between Israel and Iran. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu three weeks ago and has met the Iranian President today.

This is not the only case where New Delhi is trying to broker peace between conflicting sides. PM Modi is also trying to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine which have been at war since 2022. Here too, Prime Minister Modi shares a strong bond with both Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Zelenskyy.

PM Modi has visited Russia twice in three months and went to Ukraine as well in this period. He also reportedly sent a “peace plan” for President Putin last month when National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met the Russian President in Moscow.

CHABAHAR PORT AND INST CORRIDOR

During the meeting PM Modi and President Pezeshkian also discussed the India-Iran bilateral ties and ways to strengthen it. Among several key areas of cooperation, the two leaders discussed strategic projects like the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor or INSTC.

After the meeting, PM Modi shared a post on social media platform X, in which he wrote “Had a very good meeting with the President of Iran, Mr. Masoud Pezeshkian. We reviewed the full range of relations between our countries. We also discussed ways to deepen ties in futuristic sectors.” He shared the same post in Persian too.

WHAT MORE WAS DISCUSSED

The Ministry of External Affairs gave more details about what the two leaders discussed, as Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a press briefing in which he said that PM Modi and President Pezeshkian held “fruitful discussions”, adding that “Both the leaders discussed the situation in West Asia. Prime Minister Modi expressed his deep concern over the escalating conflict and reiterated India’s call for the protection of civilians and the prevention of harm to civilians. He emphasised the need for dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate the tensions.”

Mr Misri further said that “President Pezeshkian emphasised the need for peace and harmony in the region and the role that India could play in de-escalating the conflict given its good relations with all the parties involved.”

The foreign secretary went on to say that PM Modi congratulated President Pezeshkian on his electoral victory and also welcomed Iran to the BRICS forum, which it has joined officially from this year.

Speaking about the millenia-old ties between the two countries, the foreign secretary said, “Both leaders emphasised the shared historical and civilisational ties between the two countries and discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation.”

“The discussion focused on key areas of cooperation, particularly the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) which are crucial for enhancing regional connectivity and economic partnership,” Mr Misri said.

REDEVELOPMENT OF AFGHANISTAN

In a statement about the bilateral talks, the Ministry of External Affairs said in its statement that the two leaders noted that “The signing of the long-term contract of Chabahar Port is an important milestone in bilateral relations.”

It further stated that the two leaders reaffirmed its significance for reconstruction and redevelopment of Afghanistan and enhancing trade and economic linkages with Central Asia.”

INDIA’S SUPPORT TO IRAN

President Pezeshkian acknowledged India’s role in Iran’s accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO and BRICS forums. “They agreed to continue their cooperation in various international forums,” the foreign secretary said at the press briefing.

The foreign ministry said that “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Iranian President Pezeshkian to visit India at an early date,” adding that “President Pezeshkian has accepted the invitation.”

This was their first meeting after Mr Pezeshkian became President of Iran in July. He succeeded President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May.
 

Kazan, Russia:

With the conflict in West Asia escalating significantly after Israel and Iran threatened each other of an endless series of retaliations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Russia on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in the city of Kazan.

India has expressed “deep concern” over the current situation in West Asia and has been calling for “dialogue and diplomacy” to de-escalate the tension in the region also known as the Middle East.

The meeting between the two leaders came amid the year-long Israel-Hamas war and the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, and after Iran’s ballistic missile offensive against Israel led to Tel Aviv vowing a massive retaliation.

INDIA’S ATTEMPT TO BROKER PEACE

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasised the need for peace in the region and the “role that New Delhi could play in de-escalating the Middle East crisis,” given its good relations with all the parties involved.

India, which has friendly relations with almost all nations, finds itself in a unique position to be able to mediate between Israel and Iran. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu three weeks ago and has met the Iranian President today.

This is not the only case where New Delhi is trying to broker peace between conflicting sides. PM Modi is also trying to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine which have been at war since 2022. Here too, Prime Minister Modi shares a strong bond with both Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Zelenskyy.

PM Modi has visited Russia twice in three months and went to Ukraine as well in this period. He also reportedly sent a “peace plan” for President Putin last month when National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met the Russian President in Moscow.

CHABAHAR PORT AND INST CORRIDOR

During the meeting PM Modi and President Pezeshkian also discussed the India-Iran bilateral ties and ways to strengthen it. Among several key areas of cooperation, the two leaders discussed strategic projects like the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor or INSTC.

After the meeting, PM Modi shared a post on social media platform X, in which he wrote “Had a very good meeting with the President of Iran, Mr. Masoud Pezeshkian. We reviewed the full range of relations between our countries. We also discussed ways to deepen ties in futuristic sectors.” He shared the same post in Persian too.

WHAT MORE WAS DISCUSSED

The Ministry of External Affairs gave more details about what the two leaders discussed, as Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a press briefing in which he said that PM Modi and President Pezeshkian held “fruitful discussions”, adding that “Both the leaders discussed the situation in West Asia. Prime Minister Modi expressed his deep concern over the escalating conflict and reiterated India’s call for the protection of civilians and the prevention of harm to civilians. He emphasised the need for dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate the tensions.”

Mr Misri further said that “President Pezeshkian emphasised the need for peace and harmony in the region and the role that India could play in de-escalating the conflict given its good relations with all the parties involved.”

The foreign secretary went on to say that PM Modi congratulated President Pezeshkian on his electoral victory and also welcomed Iran to the BRICS forum, which it has joined officially from this year.

Speaking about the millenia-old ties between the two countries, the foreign secretary said, “Both leaders emphasised the shared historical and civilisational ties between the two countries and discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation.”

“The discussion focused on key areas of cooperation, particularly the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) which are crucial for enhancing regional connectivity and economic partnership,” Mr Misri said.

REDEVELOPMENT OF AFGHANISTAN

In a statement about the bilateral talks, the Ministry of External Affairs said in its statement that the two leaders noted that “The signing of the long-term contract of Chabahar Port is an important milestone in bilateral relations.”

It further stated that the two leaders reaffirmed its significance for reconstruction and redevelopment of Afghanistan and enhancing trade and economic linkages with Central Asia.”

INDIA’S SUPPORT TO IRAN

President Pezeshkian acknowledged India’s role in Iran’s accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO and BRICS forums. “They agreed to continue their cooperation in various international forums,” the foreign secretary said at the press briefing.

The foreign ministry said that “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Iranian President Pezeshkian to visit India at an early date,” adding that “President Pezeshkian has accepted the invitation.”

This was their first meeting after Mr Pezeshkian became President of Iran in July. He succeeded President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May.
 

The U.S. has urgently cautioned Israel not to further expand military operations in the north in Lebanon. Representational file image.
| Photo Credit: AP

The U.S. is investigating an unauthorized release of classified documents that assess Israel’s plans to attack Iran, three U.S. officials told The Associated Press. A fourth U.S. official said the documents appear to be legitimate.

The documents are attributed to the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency and note that Israel continues to move military assets in place to conduct a military strike in response to Iran’s blistering ballistic missile attack on Oct. 1. They were sharable within the “Five Eyes,” which are the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Also read | Israel pressured by U.N. and U.S. to step up action to tackle Gaza’s escalating humanitarian crisis

The documents, which are marked top secret, were posted online to Telegram and first reported by CNN and Axios. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

The investigation is also examining how the documents were obtained — including whether it was an intentional leak by a member of the U.S. intelligence community or obtained by another method, like a hack — and whether any other intelligence information was compromised, one of the officials said. As part of that investigation, officials are working to determine who had access to the documents before they were posted, the official said.

The documents emerged as the U.S. has urged Israel to take advantage of its killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and press for a ceasefire in Gaza, and has likewise urgently cautioned Israel not to further expand military operations in the north in Lebanon and risk a wider regional war. However, Israel’s leadership has repeatedly stressed it will not let Iran’s missile attack go unanswered.

In a statement, the Pentagon said it was aware of the reports of the documents but did not have further comment.

People stand on top of the remains of an Iranian missile in the Negev desert near Arad, on October 2, 2024, in the aftermath of an Iranian missile attack on Israel.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Hezbollah said it repelled an Israeli infiltration into southern Lebanon on Wednesday (October 2, 2024) as Israel reported eight soldiers were killed — its first losses since launching cross-border raids this week.

The clashes came hours after Iran launched its largest missile attack yet on Israel, its sworn enemy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Tehran would pay for its “big mistake”.

Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon: Follow live updates

Iran, which backs Hezbollah, said it would step up its response if Israel retaliates, defying calls for de-escalation in a war that has cost more than 1,000 lives in Lebanon.

U.S. President Joe Biden ruled out supporting an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian again warned of a “stronger” response, though he stressed Iran was “not looking for war”.

Israel, shifting its focus from the Gaza war sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attacks, is now trying to secure its border with Lebanon so tens of thousands Israelis displaced by nearly a year of exchanges of fire with Hezbollah can return home.

A day after its military said it was conducting “targeted ground raids” in south Lebanon, Israel reported the first death of a soldier in the Israel-Hezbollah war, a toll that later rose to eight dead.

Israel bombarded Hezbollah’s south Beirut stronghold, having dealt a significant blow to the group last week by killing its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in a massive strike.

Hezbollah said it forced Israeli soldiers to retreat, targeted an Israeli unit with explosives and destroyed three Merkava tanks with rockets as they advanced on Maroun al-Ras village.

The Israeli Army said it staged two brief incursions into Lebanon, warning residents to evacuate more than 20 areas.

In Beirut, Hezbollah targets in the southern suburbs were repeatedly bombarded overnight, with AFP correspondents hearing about 20 explosions and seeing smoke billowing over the area.

Iran missile attack

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said an Israeli strike on a Damascus neighbourhood frequented by Hezbollah leaders and Iranian Revolutionary Guards killed two people.

Hours after Israel announced the start of ground operations in Lebanon, Iran fired some 200 missiles including hypersonic weapons, sending frightened Israeli civilians into shelters.

Israel said it intercepted most of them. Two people were wounded by shrapnel and a school building was damaged.

The Israeli military said several Iranian missiles struck inside air force bases without causing any casualties or damage.

In Jericho in the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian was killed when “pieces of a rocket fell from the sky and hit him”, the city’s Governor Hussein Hamayel said.

A police officer holds a weapon, near the scene of a shooting attack in Jaffa, Israel on October 1, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Israeli police said six people were killed in a shooting attack in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening.

Police said two suspects opened fire on a boulevard in the Jaffa neighbourhood in southern Tel Aviv. The two suspects were killed, police said.

Israel-Hezbollah war updates: Iran launches ballistic missiles at Israel

The attack came moments before a massive barrage of rockets from Iran towards Israel, sending people towards bomb shelters across the country, including in Tel Aviv. 

The United Nations Security Council meets on the situation in the Middle East at the UN headquarters in New York City on April 18, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday, April 19, 2024 morning after reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

It remained unclear if the country was under attack. However, tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel.

IRNA said the defenses fired across several provinces. It did not elaborate on what caused the batteries to fire, though people across the area reported hearing the sounds.

The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported the sound of blasts, without giving a cause. State television acknowledged “loud noise” in the area.

Earlier, the commercial flights began diverting their routes over western Iran without explanation early Friday as one semiofficial news agency in the Islamic Republic reported “explosions” heard over the city of Isfahan. State television acknowledged “loud noise.”

The incident comes as tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel.

Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.

The semiofficial Fars news agency reported on explosions being heard over Isfahan near its international airport. It offered no explanation. However, Isfahan is home to a major airbase for the Iranian military, as well as sites associated with its nuclear program.

Iranian state television began a scrolling, on-screen alert acknowledging a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without immediately elaborating.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.