'Our Friendship with Iran': Jaishankar Says—No Special Deal to Evacuate Indian-Flagged Ships; It Is a Matter of Long-Standing Cooperation

The conflict raging in West Asia for the past 17 days has shaken the global oil market. A major impact of this has been observed at the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of a looming crisis in global oil supplies. Amidst this tense situation, India has taken a diplomatic initiative. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that India is engaged in direct and decisive dialogue with Iran, thereby ensuring the safe passage of Indian-flagged vessels.

Jaishankar also emphasized that direct communication with Iranian officials has yielded positive results. In this context, several more Indian-flagged vessels are yet to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. In an interview with the Financial Times, Jaishankar clarified that each Indian vessel is being granted permission on an individual basis, and no new agreement has been signed between India and Iran for this purpose.

No Agreement for This Movement: Jaishankar

During this interaction, Jaishankar further stressed that India has not offered any concessions or benefits to Iran in exchange for the safe passage of Indian-flagged vessels. He stated that India and Iran share a long-standing history of cooperation, and it is on this basis that India took this step; it is not a quid pro quo arrangement.

It is worth noting that last week, Iran granted permission for two Indian-flagged LPG tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This move came just hours after a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian—the first contact between the two leaders since the outbreak of hostilities between the U.S. and Iran. Additionally, discussions were held between Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart, Seyyed Abbas Araqchi.

Strait of Hormuz Closed Only to U.S. and Israeli Vessels

However, Iran has restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz specifically for U.S. and Israeli vessels, as well as those of their allies. Approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Against this backdrop, the conflict in West Asia—which has been ongoing for the past 17 days—has disrupted operations in the region; furthermore, as a direct consequence of this conflict, crude oil prices have surged to $100 per barrel.

India Opts for the Path of Dialogue

It is noteworthy that, amidst this challenging situation, US President Donald Trump has called upon his allies to dispatch warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz. However, the response to this appeal from most nations has been negative. From Japan to Australia, countries across the board have declined to deploy their warships to the Strait of Hormuz. As for India, its strategic approach—rather than focusing solely on direct dialogue or agreements—has centered on ensuring safe passage. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar further stated that India is prepared to share its strategy with European nations, while acknowledging that each country maintains a distinct relationship with Iran.