Strait of Hormuz Effectively Closed: Modi and Trump Discuss Maritime Security
Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump held a phone call to discuss the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and secure, amid an effective closure of the waterway
The call occurred approximately 48 hours after direct US-Iran peace negotiations in Islamabad failed to produce an agreement
Iran subsequently hinted at introducing a "new mechanism" regarding the Strait, without specifying its terms
The US had declared a naval blockade of Iranian ports effective April 13, 2026, escalating the standoff at the Strait
This was the second bilateral conversation between the two leaders within a three-week period, reflecting intensified diplomatic engagement by India
Strait of Hormuz: Legal Status and Freedom of Navigation
The Strait of Hormuz is an international strait governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Under UNCLOS Part III, ships of all states enjoy the right of transit passage through international straits used for international navigation. This right cannot be suspended, unlike innocent passage through territorial waters. The strait lies between Iran (to the north) and Oman's Musandam Peninsula (to the south).
The closure of the Strait — whether by Iran mining, blockade threats, or US counter-blockade — implicates UNCLOS transit passage rights and raises questions about the legality of both Iran's actions and the US naval blockade.
US Naval Blockade: International Law Dimensions
A naval blockade under international law (Laws of Armed Conflict / laws of naval warfare) is a belligerent operation to prevent vessels from entering or exiting enemy ports. The 1856 Declaration of Paris and the 1909 Declaration of London codified blockade rules, requiring that a blockade must be (i) declared, (ii) effective, and (iii) not applied to neutral vessels carrying non-contraband goods. In modern international law, blockades during armed conflict are governed by the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea (1994).
India's call to keep Hormuz open is tied to its concern about the legality and humanitarian impact of the blockade, and its desire to protect its own vessels and energy supply chains from interdiction.
India's West Asia Policy: Strategic Autonomy
India follows a policy of strategic autonomy in West Asia — engaging constructively with all major regional powers (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel, UAE) without aligning exclusively with any. This multi-alignment is reflected in India's large diaspora in the Gulf (~9 million), remittance flows (Gulf accounts for ~36% of India's total remittances), and energy dependence (~60% of India's oil imports from West Asia).
Modi's direct call to Trump to keep Hormuz open reflects India's calculation that the closure threatens all three pillars of its West Asia interests: energy supply, diaspora welfare, and remittance flows.
- Strait of Hormuz: ~30 miles wide at narrowest point, between Iran and Oman's Musandam Peninsula
- Oil through Hormuz: ~20 million barrels/day in 2024 (~20% of global petroleum consumption)
- Asian markets receive 84% of crude oil transiting Hormuz
- India's oil import dependence from West Asia: ~60% of total crude imports
- India's Gulf diaspora: ~9 million persons; Gulf share of remittances: ~36%
- US naval blockade of Iranian ports: effective April 13, 2026
- UNCLOS ratified by India: 1995
- Iran hinted at a "new mechanism" for the Strait post-Islamabad talks failure