Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday in Berlin that “it is possible” India could one day mediate between the United States and Iran to help end the ongoing war, while noting that India does not currently have a role in the talks. He made the comment at an event in Berlin, speaking in Hindi, and framed it as a future possibility rather than an active initiative.
“Everything has a moment. It is possible that there might come a tomorrow when India may mediate and be successful as well,” Rajnath said. “The Prime Minister has appealed to both sides to end the war. Our prime minister has a very balanced approach to diplomatic matters,” he added, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s calls for peace during meetings in Europe with Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump.
At present, Pakistan is leading mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran and is trying to convert the ceasefire it brokered into a lasting peace agreement. Turkey and Egypt are reported to have supporting roles in the process. Indian officials have not been listed as participants in the Pakistan‑led talks.
The Pakistan‑brokered ceasefire’s status is uncertain. According to the report, President Trump has unilaterally extended the ceasefire until Iran submits a formal proposal, but Iran has publicly rejected any ceasefire and accused the United States of using pauses to buy time for a possible attack.
Islamabad has said it is ready to host delegations from the United States and Iran and has prepared facilities for talks since the weekend, but the meetings have been delayed. The delay appears to stem from a lack of response from Tehran, according to the account in the source material.
Axios reported that divisions within Iran — between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and civilian negotiators — are complicating the response. The report said US and Pakistani mediators were awaiting a direct reply from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to break the deadlock and allow Iran to submit a formal proposal; that reply was expected on Wednesday, the report added.
Rajnath’s remarks underscore New Delhi’s cautious diplomatic posture: signalling readiness to help if asked, while recognising that Pakistan currently drives the mediation. If India were to become involved, it would mark a significant expansion of its diplomatic role in the US‑Iran crisis, aligning with the government’s repeated public appeals for a peaceful resolution.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/rajnath-singh-india-role-us-iran-mediation-west-asia-conflict-islamabad-talks-14003224.html
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Publish Date: 2026-04-22 16:08:00
