Jairam Ramesh; PM Narendra Modi NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday welcomed US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran but criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “blind devotion” to Israel.Congress MP Jairam Ramesh cited Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Israel just days before it launched strikes on Iran in a joint operation with the US, triggering the Middle East conflict.The agreement will be signed later this week in Switzerland.”The news that the US and Iran will be signing an agreement on June 19th in Geneva to halt hostilities in West Asia is to be welcomed, even though the full details are yet to be made public officially. There is universal hope that the two countries (as also Israel) will abide by the accord – even though it is of an interim nature – and that the accord will lead to a more permanent normalization,” he wrote on X.Ramesh noted that although the pact would result in the unrestricted reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — a key maritime route that has been under a virtual blockade since early March in Iran’s retaliation for the war — this does not mean that structural problems facing the Indian economy would soon be surmounted.These issues, he added, were already there even before the war broke out on February 28, two days before Prime Minister Modi’s Israel visit.The Rajya Sabha member also pointed to Pakistan’s role in mediating the truce, saying that Islamabad has acquired a new regional and global influence despite its isolation due to India’s efforts after the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai.”This, coupled with China’s deep embedding in Pakistan’s strategic apparatus, poses a formidable geo-political challenge for India’s foreign policy. It is too much to expect Mr. Modi to rethink his blind devotion and unconditional support to Israel. But humanitarian considerations and long-standing commitments apart, our national interest demands greater balance than Mr. Modi has shown,” Ramesh said,Ramesh’s remarks came after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that a peace deal between the US and Iran had been reached, which was followed by Trump’s announcement.Sharif added that both sides had declared the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts.” This also includes Lebanon, which was drawn into the conflict after Hezbollah, a Tehran-backed militant group based in Lebanon, entered the war after the killing of Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the operation.Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, is now the Supreme Leader, but has not been seen in public since the war began.Get the latest India news and live updates. 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The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosOver 500 Indian Sailors Stuck In Strait Of Hormuz For 107 Days As Maritime Crisis DeepensTMC Split Deepens: Sudip Bandyopadhyay Says Rebels Will Seek Trinamool Name And Symbol In JulyPunjab Elections Could Be Held In November This Year, Claims Kejriwal Amid Early Poll BuzzNoida International Airport Opens For Flights; Passengers Praise Faster AccessAbhishek Banerjee Writes To Speaker Om Birla Against Recognition Of Rebel TMC FactionIndia Eyes Local Production Of 114 Rafale Fighter Jets In Landmark France DealBritish Kashmiris protest outside UK Parliament over crackdown in PoJK by Pakistani forcesNirmala Sitharaman Rejects Karnataka Fund Bias Claims, Attacks Congress Over ‘Adani-Ambani’ ChargeRebel TMC MPs To Merge With Nationalist Citizens Party, Support NDA’Modi Is A Swayamsevak, But…’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Speaks On PM’s Ties With Sangh123Photostories6 common phrases used for gaslighting and how to respond, as per psychologistCurd vs hung curd vs Greek yogurt: What is the difference and which has more proteinWhy the Sahyadri mountains are among Maharashtra’s most spectacular travel destinationsThai love proverb of the day: “When in love, even boiled vegetable broth tastes sweet; when hating…”You need 4 days to recover from an hour of lost sleep: Doctor explains the true cost of sleep deprivation7 Garden mistakes that can clog drains and lead to costly maintenance problems5 uncomfortable truths that can quietly make you successful and happierWorking parents: 7 expert-backed ways to avoid burnoutThink all steel utensils are safe? 5 must do quality checks before buying themThese 5 animals turn white in winter – here’s why123Hot PicksIndia A vs Sri Lanka A live scoreAP Inter Supplementary ResultsNEET Admit CardMHT CET PCM ResultMahua MoitraBaba Milandas murderNoida airportStock Market LiveGold rate todayTop TrendingKerala HSCAP first allotment result 2026UPSC Prelims ResultNEET Admit Card 2026FIFA World Cup 2026Women T20 World CupNoida AirportIlia TopuriaComedian PranitTMC Leader Kunal GhoshSpain vs Cabo Match Preview
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday welcomed US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran but criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “blind devotion” to Israel.Congress MP Jairam Ramesh cited Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Israel just days before it launched strikes on Iran in a joint operation with the US, triggering the Middle East conflict.The agreement will be signed later this week in Switzerland.“The news that the US and Iran will be signing an agreement on June 19th in Geneva to halt hostilities in West Asia is to be welcomed, even though the full details are yet to be made public officially. There is universal hope that the two countries (as also Israel) will abide by the accord – even though it is of an interim nature – and that the accord will lead to a more permanent normalization,” he wrote on X.Ramesh noted that although the pact would result in the unrestricted reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — a key maritime route that has been under a virtual blockade since early March in Iran’s retaliation for the war — this does not mean that structural problems facing the Indian economy would soon be surmounted.These issues, he added, were already there even before the war broke out on February 28, two days before Prime Minister Modi’s Israel visit.The Rajya Sabha member also pointed to Pakistan’s role in mediating the truce, saying that Islamabad has acquired a new regional and global influence despite its isolation due to India’s efforts after the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai.“This, coupled with China’s deep embedding in Pakistan’s strategic apparatus, poses a formidable geo-political challenge for India’s foreign policy. It is too much to expect Mr. Modi to rethink his blind devotion and unconditional support to Israel. But humanitarian considerations and long-standing commitments apart, our national interest demands greater balance than Mr. Modi has shown,” Ramesh said,Ramesh’s remarks came after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that a peace deal between the US and Iran had been reached, which was followed by Trump’s announcement.Sharif added that both sides had declared the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts.” This also includes Lebanon, which was drawn into the conflict after Hezbollah, a Tehran-backed militant group based in Lebanon, entered the war after the killing of Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the operation.Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, is now the Supreme Leader, but has not been seen in public since the war began.
