New Delhi, March 21 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in West Asia that disrupt supply chains and called for keeping shipping lanes open during a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday, as part of outreach to regional leaders to address escalating tensions and ensure India's energy security.

Pezeshkian referred to India's presidency of BRICS and called for the grouping to play an "independent role" in halting aggression against Iran and in safeguarding regional peace, according to an Iranian readout of the call. He said the "immediate cessation of aggressions by the US and Israel" is a prerequisite for ending the war in the region.

This was the second phone conv...