India can play a role in US-Iran ceasefire, says Finland President Stubb

Finland President Alexander Stubb on Monday called for India to take on a diplomatic role in efforts to secure a ceasefire between the US-Israel bloc and Iran as war in the Middle East escalates on the 18th day.

"We need a ceasefire," Stubb said, "I'm just wondering whether, you know, the Europeans or actually India could get involved."

In an interview with Bloomberg, the Finnish President pointed that India's foreign minister S Jaishankar called for a ceasefire and negotiations just to calm down the temperature and freeze the situation out of this.

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Stubb's remarks came as Jaishankar has held multiple rounds of conversations with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi on the developments in the Middle East.

On the dynamic geopolitical conditions, Stubb said that a lot of countries are now working outside the framework of international law, and called for a revamp of the world order, "a return back to international institutions, norms and laws."

This step needs consensus among the 200 nations, Stubb said, adding that it should be the likes of India and others that have a bigger say in this. "For me, diplomacy is always about win-win. And right now we're seeing zero sum a lot of transactions and deals," he added.

In his third conversation with Araghchi, Jaishankar discussed safety of shipping and India's energy security amid the ongoing Middle East war.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal said, "Dr S Jaishankar and Foreign Minister of Iran have had three conversations in recent days. The last one discussed issues pertaining to the safety of shipping and India's energy security. Beyond that, it would be premature for me to say anything."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to multiple leaders across the Guld region, stressing the need for dialogue and diplomacy so that early peace can return.