Iran Envoy Pledges Effort for Safe Passage of India-Bound Fuel Ships Through Hormuz
Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, stated that Tehran would "try its best" to ensure safe passage for India-bound fuel ships through the Strait of Hormuz, describing Iran as maintaining "good contact" with the Indian government on the issue.
Two Indian-flagged tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) had already passed through the Strait in a rare exception granted by Iran amid the broader closure of the waterway.
Among the vessels allowed through were MT Shivalik, MT Nanda Devi, Pine Gas, Jag Vasant, BW TYR, BW ELM, Green Asha, and Green Sanvi.
At least 15 Indian-flagged ships remained in the Strait, with efforts underway to secure their transit.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical conduit for approximately 40% of India's crude oil imports; disruption threatens not only energy supply but also LPG availability for households dependent on Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.
India-Iran Bilateral Relations: Strategic Depth and Connectivity
India and Iran share deep civilisational, cultural, and strategic ties that transcend sanctions-era complications. India was among Iran's largest oil customers before the US "maximum pressure" sanctions campaign (2018-2019) forced a near-complete halt to Indian purchases of Iranian crude.
The Iranian Ambassador's assurances reflect Iran's recognition that India's "strategic autonomy" — neither joining Western sanctions nor endorsing US military action — places India in a unique diplomatic position to negotiate safe passage through back-channel engagements.
Strait of Hormuz: India's Energy Vulnerability and Mitigation Measures
India's petroleum supply chain is acutely exposed to Hormuz disruption. Approximately 85% of India's crude oil imports and significant volumes of LPG and LNG pass through the strait.
Iran's selective extension of safe passage to Indian vessels — while restricting others — demonstrates how diplomatic capital built through strategic autonomy translates into tangible energy security benefits during crises.
Maritime Security: India's Naval Presence in the Indian Ocean Region
India's naval strategy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is guided by the doctrine of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), articulated in 2015. India views itself as the "net security provider" in the IOR and maintains an increasingly active naval presence in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea.
Key Details
- Indian Navy's Western Naval Command (Mumbai): responsible for Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf operations; operates destroyer, frigate, and submarine flotillas
- India's Operation Sankalp (2019): earlier Indian Navy operation to escort Indian-flagged commercial vessels through the Gulf of Oman during Iran-US tensions — now being revived in the 2026 crisis context
- India's "neighbourhood first" and "extended neighbourhood" maritime doctrine: Persian Gulf is considered part of India's extended maritime neighbourhood
- Trilateral mechanism: India-France-UAE maritime security cooperation; India and Saudi Arabia signed a Maritime Security MoU in 2019
- Indian Navy INS Shivalik-class and INS Kolkata-class destroyers deployed in Arabian Sea for escort and anti-piracy duties
India's ability to secure safe passage for its flagged vessels is backed not only by diplomatic engagement but also by the Indian Navy's forward presence in the region, which Iran perceives as a factor in calibrating its enforcement actions.
- India's crude import exposure through Hormuz: ~85% of total imports
- Strait of Hormuz: ~34% of global seaborne crude trade
- India's LPG-dependent households: ~315 million (PMUY beneficiaries)
- PMUY launched: May 2016; target: 80 million connections
- India's SPR: ~5.33 million tonnes (~39 million barrels); 3 locations
- SPR expansion target: 11.5 million tonnes by 2030
- India's crude import dependency: ~88%
- Operation Sankalp (Indian Navy): activated in Persian Gulf earlier in 2019 context, precedent for 2026 escorts
- Chabahar Port operator: India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL); strategic for INSTC corridor
- Iran-India share of INSTC: Iran provides land connectivity from Bandar Abbas/Chabahar to the Caspian/Russia