Trump, PM Modi discuss Hormuz, bilateral ties; China slams US over Hormuz blockade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a forty-minute phone conversation regarding the West Asia crisis and the necessity of a ceasefire. The discussion addressed bilateral cooperation and the security of the Strait of Hormuz, where a United States naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman has stranded Indian commercial vessels. This maritime disruption impacts energy security for India, Nepal, and Bhutan, prompting Russia and China to call for renewed dialogue. Beijing has formally objected to the blockade after a Chinese vessel reportedly defied the restrictions. Concurrently, Pakistan proposed hosting peace talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad. In a separate domestic development, a Special Investigation Team in Nashik is investigating allegations of forced conversion and sexual harassment at a Tata Consultancy Services unit. Twelve victims have been identified, and nine police complaints have been registered. Furthermore, direct diplomatic talks between Israel and Lebanon have commenced in the United States for the first time in thirty years to address regional stability.