00:00The joint strike by the U.S. and Israel on Iran is testing India's foreign policy.
00:05India needs Iran's goodwill to keep its energy flowing through the narrow Hormuz Strait,
00:10a maritime choke point that Tehran has virtually shut down since the war began two weeks ago.
00:17Modi has stepped up on diplomacy, there have been a flurry of calls between New Delhi and Tehran,
00:21and the initiative has been largely led by India's Foreign Minister Subramaniam Jair Shankar.
00:26For now, talks seem to be working. Over the weekend, India announced at least two tankers cross the Hormuz Strait.
00:33But for Modi, it is a tightrope walk.
00:35India cannot afford to annoy the United States or its other allies in the Gulf, such as the UAE or
00:41Qatar,
00:42which are facing the brunt of Iran's counter-strike.
00:46Back at home, he needs to keep inflation and fuel prices down, as his party contests crucial state elections in
00:54April.
00:55For now, India is following a well-known path, that of neutrality, advocating talks, diplomacy to end this conflict.
01:04But the big question is, will it work?
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