On March 21, 2026, Iranian President Masoud Pejeshkian held a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where they discussed bilateral relations and the escalating tensions in West Asia. During this dialogue, President Pejeshkian asserted that Iran did not initiate the war, instead attributing the military actions to the United States and Israel, which he claims began assaults without legitimate rationale.

President Pejeshkian highlighted the tragic consequences of the joint attacks by the US and Israel, claiming that they resulted in numerous civilian casualties, including innocent children. He specifically referenced an incident where a school for girls in the Iranian city of Minab was targeted, leading to the death of 168 young girls, a point he used to emphasize the severe humanitarian crisis and call for international accountability.

Reinforcing his position, Pejeshkian rejected claims from US authorities that these attacks were aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, stating that Iran’s supreme leadership has consistently opposed the development of nuclear arms. He urged Prime Minister Modi to seek guarantees from both the US and Israel to cease their military operations, framing this as a path toward peace in the region.