Iran has allowed India-flagged tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz following talks between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi. Indian tankers ‘Pushpak’ and ‘Parimal’ have been passing safely through the Strait of Hormuz even as ships from the US, Europe and Israel continue to face restrictions in the strategically important waterway.
Ensuring the safe navigation of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz figured prominently during a conversation between EAM Jaishankar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday. The two leaders discussed the evolving situation in West Asia, and the issue of maritime movement through the strait was a key point of discussion. This was their third conversation since the outbreak of the Iran war.
India, which is Asia’s third-largest economy, relies heavily on the Strait of Hormuz as more than half of its crude oil and natural gas imports pass through the narrow maritime corridor. According to the Directorate General of Shipping, 28 Indian-flagged vessels have been operating in or near the Strait of Hormuz since hostilities began in the region. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as security concerns persist in one of the world’s most critical maritime energy routes.
