17 March,2026 10:33 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
PM Modi with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. (Pic/PTI)
PM Modi, while talking to the UAE President, discussed the current situation in West Asia. As reported by news agency PTI, both the leaders agreed on ensuring safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
During his telephonic conversation, Modi strongly condemned all attacks on the Gulf country and agreed with the UAE leader to continue to work together for the early restoration of peace, security and stability in West Asia.
"Spoke with my brother HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and conveyed advance Eid greetings.
Modi, while posting on social media platform X, wrote, "We discussed the current situation in West Asia. Reiterated India's strong condemnation of all attacks on the UAE that have resulted in loss of innocent lives and damage to civilian infrastructure."
Modi said that he and the UAE President agreed on the importance of ensuring safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
He further added, "We will continue to work together for the early restoration of peace, security and stability in the region," as per PTI.
This was the second time Modi spoke to the UAE President since the US and Israel attacked Iran.
Iran has retaliated by attacking several Gulf countries.
The Indian Prime Minister has also spoken to a number of leaders from West Asia since the current conflict started, and that includes those from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Israel and Iran.
The General Civil Aviation Authority has announced the temporary and full closure of the United Arab Emirates airspace, Al Jazeera reported.
As per Al Jazeera, state media said the move was "an exceptional precautionary measure" aimed at ensuring the safety of flights and air crews, as well as safeguarding the UAE's territory.
Earlier, the UAE's Ministry of Defence stated that it was responding to a new wave of missile and drone attacks launched by Iran, Al Jazeera reported.
Meanwhile, the UAE Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems are actively responding to incoming missiles and drones launched from Iran, as per Al Jazeera.
Separately, authorities in Dubai stated that the sounds heard across parts of the city were due to successful interception operations carried out by air defence systems, according to the Dubai Media Office's X post.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
