Modi, who held bilateral talks with visiting Finland President Alexander Stubb, said, “Today, the world is passing through a phase of instability and uncertainty." (PTI_Underlining that India believes in the “rule of law, dialogue, and diplomacy”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday that “no issue can be resolved solely through military conflict” and Delhi will continue to support every effort to end conflict and restore peace, be it in West Asia or Ukraine.His remarks came a day after an Iranian warship, which had earlier taken part in a military exercise in India, was torpedoed by a US submarine in international waters in the Indian Ocean.Also Thursday, India condoled the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in Tehran February 28 in air strikes by Israel and the US. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the Iranian embassy in New Delhi and signed the condolence book – the first public gesture from the government ever since the assassination of the Iranian leader.“Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri visited the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and signed the condolence book, on behalf of the people and the Government of India, on the demise of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei,” Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar too had a phone conversation with Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister – this was their second conversation since the start of the conflict on February 28.Modi, who held bilateral talks with visiting Finland President Alexander Stubb, said, “Today, the world is passing through a phase of instability and uncertainty. From Ukraine to West Asia, several parts of the world continue to face situations of conflict. In such a global environment, India and Europe, two major diplomatic powers of the world, are entering a golden phase in their relationship. Our growing cooperation is imparting new strength to global stability, development, and shared prosperity.”“India and Finland both believe in the rule of law, dialogue, and diplomacy. We are in agreement that no issue can be resolved solely through military conflict. Whether in Ukraine or in West Asia, we will continue to support every effort aimed at the early end of conflict and the restoration of peace,” he said.Story continues below this adThis was the first time that the PM had used the formulation “rule of law” and “military conflict” in the context of the US-Israel attacks on Iran and Tehran’s counter-attacks on Israel and US military bases and personnel in the region.He also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron where they “shared concerns over the evolving situation in West Asia and the need for a return to dialogue and diplomacy”.“Spoke with my friend President Emmanuel Macron today. We discussed our shared concerns over the evolving situation in West Asia and the need for a return to dialogue and diplomacy. We will continue to engage closely and coordinate efforts towards the early restoration of peace and stability in the region,” he said, tagging Macron.Macron has taken a nuanced position on the conflict. He has said that the US-Israel attacks were conducted “outside the framework of international law, and we cannot approve that”. But he has also said that Iran bears “primary responsibility” for this situation because it developed a “dangerous nuclear programme and unprecedented ballistic capabilities”. He ordered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, its air assets, and its frigate escort to set sail for the Mediterranean following the situation in the Middle East.Story continues below this adAs Modi expressed concern over the conflict, Stubb, on his part, said, “Today we discussed security issues in the region. We have conflicts in both regions, in West Asia and also, of course, in Ukraine. And for us, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has lasted for too long, four years. We agreed that ending the war is in everyone’s interests, and a lasting peace can only be one that respects the principles of the United Nations.”Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express, has been a journalist for more than 25 years now. Roy joined The Indian Express in October 2003 and has been reporting on foreign affairs for more than 17 years now. Based in Delhi, he has also led the National government and political bureau at The Indian Express in Delhi — a team of reporters who cover the national government and politics for the newspaper. He has got the Ramnath Goenka Journalism award for Excellence in Journalism ‘2016. He got this award for his coverage of the Holey Bakery attack in Dhaka and its aftermath. He also got the IIMCAA Award for the Journalist of the Year, 2022, (Jury’s special mention) for his coverage of the fall of Kabul in August 2021 — he was one of the few Indian journalists in Kabul and the only mainstream newspaper to have covered the Taliban’s capture of power in mid-August, 2021. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd