G7 Summit: PM Modi In Canada | Israel's Big Warning Khamenei | Indian Students Evacuated From Iran
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in Canada to attend the G7 Summit at Kananaskis, marking his first visit to the country in a decade. Discussions with world leaders will focus on pressing global issues, including energy security, technology, and innovation. The summit comes amidst escalating geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
The G7 summit is taking place against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East. Israel and Iran have been engaged in a series of strikes, raising concerns about a wider regional conflict. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, suggesting he could face a similar fate to Iraq's former dictator Saddam Hussein. Katz stated, "Remember what happened to the dictator in the neighboring country of Iran who took this path against Israel." This warning is a reflection of the deepening hostility between Israel and Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also not ruled out plans to target Khamenei.
Meanwhile, several of Khamenei’s most trusted senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders have been assassinated by Israel. There are also reports that Khamenei's health, both physical and mental, has severely deteriorated following Israel's unprecedented wave of targeted assassinations against Iran's military and intelligence elite.
In light of the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, many Indian students in Iran were left stranded and worried. The Indian government has taken steps to ensure their safety. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that Indian students in Tehran have been moved out of the city. 110 students have been successfully evacuated to Armenia through arrangements made by the Indian Embassy. They have been accommodated in hotels at designated locations and are scheduled to fly to Delhi on Wednesday. The Indian Embassy in Tehran has advised all Indian nationals and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who can move out of Tehran using their own resources to move to a safe location outside the city.
The MEA has also set up a 24/7 control room to provide assistance. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan to discuss the evacuation of Indians from Iran via the land border due to the closure of Iranian airspace. The government is also exploring other routes to evacuate Indian citizens, including a shipping route to the UAE.
At the G7 Summit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to discuss important global issues and emphasize the priorities of the Global South. India has regularly been invited to the Outreach session of the G7 Summit in recent years, reflecting its growing economic importance and global influence. The summit is expected to address pressing challenges facing the globe, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the situation in West Asia. Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with leaders of Germany, Canada, Ukraine, and Italy. Discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are being seen as an opportunity to reset bilateral ties.
