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Amid increasing geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz following an announcement of a blockade by US President Donald Trump, Iran has assured India of uninterrupted maritime access. Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, confirmed that there will be no transit charge levied on Indian ships and they would get “special arrangements” to navigate safely.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most sensitive energy corridors, which handles around 20% of global oil and almost half of India's crude oil and LPG imports. As approximately 15 Indian flagged vessels are said to have been stranded amid the prevailing tensions, the assurance by Iran is quite relieving to the energy security of India.
The bilateral ties were also mentioned by Fathali, who remarked, “For Indian ships, you know that we have a good relation with the Indian government… We want good preparation for Indian ships.”
On the subject of any charges in transit, Fathali also said, “You can ask the Indian government if we have charged anything up to now”, which validates the fact that India never paid tolls even in times of increased tension.
This is in line with the official position of India, which has denied that it pays to have LPG carriers travel the route. It is interesting to note that at least nine Indian ships, such as the LPG tanker Jag Vikram, have been able to cross the strait during the period of crisis.
The tanker crossed the strait between Friday night and Saturday morning and reached the Gulf of Oman by Saturday afternoon. Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed this on April 13.
The guarantees are against a backdrop of a US-led naval blockade of the ships connected with the Iranian ports after unsuccessful 21-hour talks between Washington and Tehran. The US has warned that any vessel that pays tolls to Iran might be intercepted, creating more uncertainties in shipping routes.
However, Iran insists that the strait is within its jurisdiction. According to Fathali, the Strait of Hormuz was open before the war. This Strait is our territorial waters. He also charged the US with increasing the tensions even when the negotiations were still going on.
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Iran has recognized the diplomatic policy of India amid the crisis. Fathali thanked India for its support, calling it a “reliable and compassionate partner in times of hardship.”
Also, the Consul General of Iran in Mumbai pointed out that other nations such as India, China, and Russia are taking a positive part in keeping the situation stable and encouraging dialogue in view of the escalating tensions.
