Iran Affirms Strong Ties with India Amid Ongoing Middle East Conflict

Despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Iran reaffirmed its amicable relations with India on Saturday as the seventh Indian LPG tanker, Green Sanvi, navigated through the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian consulate in Mumbai highlighted the significance of India, particularly Gujarat, in their shared history. This statement comes at a crucial time, confirming Iran's previous commitments to ensure safe passage for oil and LPG vessels to India amidst global energy supply disruptions. The remarks followed Gujarat's Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi's assertion that the tanker’s passage marked a diplomatic victory for India. The consulate noted that India welcomed the Iranian people centuries ago, possibly referencing the ancient port of Lothal in Gujarat, which connected the cities of the Indus Valley to the Persian coast around 4000 years ago. Furthermore, the consulate expressed Iran's commitment to strengthening friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

Sanghvi emphasized the importance of the tanker’s journey, which carried 46,650 metric tons of LPG and successfully traversed a critical maritime route that had been nearly closed since the onset of the conflict. He posted that another vessel's passage represents yet another diplomatic achievement for India. With the transit of Green Sanvi, a total of eight Indian ships, including seven LPG tankers, have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route accounting for nearly one-fifth of the world's oil supply. Currently, approximately 17 Indian vessels remain stranded west of the strait.

The ongoing disruptions have driven global crude oil prices close to $100 per barrel. Iran has restricted passage for what it terms enemy vessels while allowing five friendly nations—India, Russia, China, Iraq, and Pakistan—safe passage. Additionally, Iran has approved a toll for ships utilizing this corridor. Meanwhile, the central government refuted claims that shipments of Iranian crude oil destined for India were redirected to China due to payment issues. The Ministry of Petroleum stated that Indian refining companies have already secured their crude oil supplies, including from Iran.

The ministry dismissed rumors, asserting that there are no payment-related obstacles to importing Iranian crude oil. This marks the first official confirmation from the Narendra Modi government regarding the import of Iranian oil following the discounts announced by the United States last month to stabilize energy prices.