New Delhi [India], March 16 (ANI): Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, has addressed ongoing theories regarding the timing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel and the subsequent joint military actions involving the United States and Israel against Iran.
Speaking about the geopolitical climate surrounding the late February visit, the ambassador noted that regional instability was a known factor well before the high-level diplomatic engagement.
“It was evident that the situation is very volatile in our region even before Prime Minister Modi came (on February 25-26, 2026),” Azar said, clarifying the context in which the trip took place.
Linking the diplomatic schedule to the military timeline, the ambassador explained that the decision to launch the offensive was dictated strictly by strategic considerations rather than the visit itself.
“When it comes to the decision to strike, the operational opportunity came only after PM Modi left,” he said, dismissing suggestions that the events were synchronized.
The envoy further detailed the procedural timeline to emphasize that formal authorization for the strike followed the prime minister’s departure from the region.
According to Azar, “The cabinet decision to approve the operation happened only two days after,” marking a clear distinction between the diplomatic conclusion of the visit and the commencement of military activity.
Beyond the timing of the strikes, Azar also clarified the long-term objectives of the current operations during a press conference in New Delhi. He stressed that neither the United States nor Israel intends to invade Iran, noting that the focus remains on encouraging internal change through domestic pressure rather than military occupation.
The Israeli envoy said the objective is to ensure greater stability and security across the region while enabling Iranians to push for changes in their country’s policies or leadership.
“We want to give the Iranian people a situation in which they can actually put pressure for a change in policy or for a change of the regime,” Azar said.
“We are going to see whether this happens or not but are resolute in putting a focus on that. It not only serves the Iranian people but it also serves our aim of creating a more stable future in the region,” he added, noting that a stable West Asia would benefit Gulf countries and the wider international community.
Azar further emphasized the need to see a Middle East “freer from the terrible threats that the Iranians were planning to build.”
The remarks come amid sharply escalating tensions, with Israel repeatedly accusing Iran of developing destabilizing capabilities through its missile program and support for armed groups.
Iran, meanwhile, maintains that its programs are for defensive purposes, though the rivalry between the two nations has increasingly played out through proxy conflicts and targeted strikes across the region.
Azar’s remarks underscore Israel’s position that regional stability depends on addressing what it views as security threats while leaving room for internal political change driven by Iranian citizens. (ANI)
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