India-Iran Dialogue Helped Clear Passage for Indian Ships Through Hormuz Says Jaishankar

New Delhi, March 16: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Sunday said India’s direct diplomatic engagement with Iran helped secure safe passage for Indian-flagged vessels through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, asserting that Tehran did not receive anything in return for allowing the ships to transit the key maritime route.

Speaking in an interview , the external affairs minister said his discussions with Iranian officials had produced positive outcomes and communication between the two sides was continuing. He indicated that several more Indian-flagged ships were yet to cross the strait and the ongoing dialogue would remain important to facilitate their movement.

Jaishankar clarified that the passage of each vessel was handled individually and there was no broad arrangement between India and Iran. He emphasised that the permission granted to the ships was not part of any exchange, noting that the two countries share longstanding diplomatic ties which formed the basis of the engagement.

The development comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East that have disrupted shipping through the vital waterway linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, a route through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

Iran recently allowed two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas carriers to sail through the strait shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The diplomatic outreach also included talks between Jaishankar and Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.

The situation at the Strait of Hormuz has drawn global attention as the ongoing conflict in the region has affected the movement of vessels from several countries. Earlier reports suggested that multiple Indian ships remained stranded in the Gulf region, though some have already crossed the high-risk zone without incident.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has indicated that the United States would deploy warships to ensure safe navigation through the strait, a move aimed at maintaining operations along one of the world’s most crucial oil transit routes.