International Relations
Bilateral ties, multilateral forums, treaties and India's foreign policy
'Resume process of facilitating India-bound ships at earliest': MEA to Iran envoy after Hormuz firing
India's MEA summoned Iranian Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Fathali and conveyed a "strong protest" over the firing on Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormu...
Iran closes Hormuz again, fires at two Indian carriers, Delhi summons Tehran envoy
Iran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz and IRGC naval units fired at two Indian-flagged carriers attempting transit, in what became a major diplomatic incident ...
Govt nod for Rs 12,980-crore maritime insurance pool amid global shipping upheaval
The Union Cabinet approved the creation of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI Pool) on April 18, 2026, backed by a sovereign guarantee of ₹12,980 crore....
US makes a U-turn, extends sanctions waiver for Russian oil till May 16; India stands to benefit
In a reversal of its earlier position, the US Treasury Department extended a sanctions waiver permitting the purchase of Russian oil until May 16, 2026 — rep...
Govt sets up ₹12,980-cr maritime insurance pool
The Union Cabinet established the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI Pool) — India's first domestic sovereign-backed maritime insurance mechanism — with a s...
Iran's 'valiant navy' ready to inflict 'new bitter defeats' on its enemies: Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei
Iran's newly appointed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued a defiant statement on April 18, 2026, declaring Iran's navy "ready to inflict new bi...
Iranian gunboats fire on tanker in Strait of Hormuz, British military says
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboats fired on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, 2026 — confirmed by the United Kingdom Marit...
One Indian vessel crosses Hormuz, four others turn back as IRGC opens fire
Ship tracking data showed oil tanker Desh Garima successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, 2026, becoming one of the few Indian vessels to compl...
Iran war energy shock drives nuclear power plans in hard-hit Asia, Africa
The disruption to global energy supplies caused by the 2026 Iran conflict has accelerated nuclear power plans across Asia and Africa, as oil and gas shipment...
Two Indian ships reverse course in Hormuz strait, says vessel tracker
Two Indian-flagged vessels, including an Indian-registered super tanker carrying approximately 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil, reversed course in the S...
Iran reimposes restrictions on Strait of Hormuz, accusing U.S. of violating deal to reopen it
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again on April 18, 2026, one day after declaring it open, accusing the United States of violating a prior understanding by m...
No date set for next round of Iran-U.S. talks: Iran Deputy Foreign Minister
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh stated on April 18, 2026, that no date has been set for the next round of Iran-US peace and nuclear talks, a...
India approves ₹12,980 crore maritime insurance pool amid rising shipping risks
The Union Cabinet approved the creation of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI Pool) with a sovereign guarantee of ₹12,980 crore to ensure uninterrupted ...
Australia, Japan sign contracts to start $7 billion warship deal
Australia and Japan signed formal contracts on April 18, 2026, launching a landmark A$10 billion (~$7 billion) deal for Japan to supply warships to the Royal...
Recovery of energy flows will be ‘gradual rather than immediate’ as Hormuz re-opens post ceasefire
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz on April 17, 2026, as part of a two-week ceasefire arrangement with the US, prompting a sharp drop in oil prices — Brent c...
Iran threatens to again close Strait of Hormuz, if U.S. blockade continues
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that no vessel should move from its anchorage in the...
Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz, but threatens to close it again as US maintains blockade
Iran announced it was reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic after the April 8, 2026 ceasefire, but threatened to close it again as the US main...
MEA summons Iranian envoy after IRGC opens fire on Indian-flagged vessels in Hormuz
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Iranian Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Fathali after the IRGC Navy opened fire on Indian-flagged vessels attempt...
Strait of Hormuz tension: India protests after ships forced to turn back
India formally protested to Iran after Indian-flagged vessels were fired upon by IRGC gunboats and several ships were forced to abandon their Hormuz transit ...
Top Ukrainian official in India, meets Doval & Jaishankar to discuss bilateral ties, war with Russia
Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council (RNBO) Secretary Rustem Umerov visited New Delhi on April 17, 2026, and held separate meetings with National ...