External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced the safe evacuation of 312 Indian fishermen from Iran to India through Armenia. This evacuation was made possible with the assistance of the Armenian government, for which Jaishankar expressed gratitude. Previously, on April 5, 345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran were also safely brought back to Chennai via Armenia amid the West Asia conflict.
Armenia has been actively involved in facilitating the evacuation of Indian nationals from Iran. The Ministry of External Affairs reported that over 1,200 Indian nationals have been successfully evacuated from Iran, with 996 of them transiting through Armenia. This evacuation effort is part of India’s ongoing initiatives to ensure the safety of its citizens in conflict zones.
In a separate development, high-stakes negotiations between the United States and Iran have commenced in Islamabad. US Vice President J.D. Vance, leading the American delegation, expressed optimism about the talks, emphasizing a positive outlook. These negotiations mark the first formal engagement between the two countries in this phase, supported by a temporary ceasefire aimed at de-escalating tensions in the Gulf region.
The US delegation, comprising Vice President Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, is pushing for a structured negotiation framework with clear directives from the White House. However, uncertainties persist, including Israel’s actions against Hezbollah and disagreements over Lebanon’s role in potential agreements, posing challenges to the negotiation process.
