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In fact, India is also in touch with Iran to ensure the safe movement of eight LPG tankers.
Tankers move in the bay near the Strait of Hormuz. (File image: Reuters)
Two Indian oil tankers transited through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday amid the ongoing war between the United States, Israel and Iran and disruption in shipping. It was reported that the tankers were “Pushpak” and “Parmal”.
Both ships were said to have passed the strait safely Diplomatic talks between India and Iran About ensuring safe maritime movement. The development came as a relief to India as a large portion of its crude oil imports travel through the Strait of Hormuz, which has seen severe disruption due to the ongoing war and attacks on commercial shipping.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has declined sharply as many international tankers and cargo ships are avoiding the route following a series of attacks and warnings from Iran that ships linked to its adversaries could be targeted. Iranian officials and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have repeatedly warned that the waterway could be effectively closed, with statements indicating that ships attempting to cross despite warnings “will not be guaranteed safe passage.” In recent days, several ships have been attacked or damaged, underscoring the risks. Fire breaks out aboard Thai-flagged bulk carrier MV Mayuri Nari Crew members went missing after being hit by projectiles near the strait, while other ships such as the cargo ship One Majesty and the tanker star Gwyneth were also damaged in the attacks during the latest wave of maritime attacks. Meanwhile, two fuel tankers – the Sefsi Vishnu and the Zephyros – were hit by explosive-laden boats near Iraqi waters, part of a wider pattern of attacks that have already forced several shipping companies to halt or re-route traffic through the strategic oil corridor.
However, with working Indian diplomacy and other factors in Iran-India relations, India-flagged ships are now being allowed through the sensitive Strait of Hormuz. here’s why:
India’s diplomatic reach
As tensions escalated in the Gulf, India moved quickly on the diplomatic front to ensure that its oil supply lines did not get caught in the crossfire. External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar reached out directly to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with both sides discussing the security of commercial shipping in the region.
Indian officials pointed out that the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz would not only impact global energy markets, but also impact countries like India that are heavily dependent on oil passing through the narrow waterway. The message from New Delhi was simple: Indian ships were conducting routine commercial trade and should not become victims of a major geopolitical conflict. Tehran appears to have acknowledged that concern.
Allowing Indian tankers to pass safely helped Iran show that its maritime pressure is primarily on its adversaries and not on countries that have kept diplomatic channels open even in difficult times.
In fact, India is also in touch with Iran to ensure safe movement of eight LPG tankers. According to sources, eight LPG tankers are currently waiting just outside the Strait of Hormuz, unable to move due to the tense security situation in the region. The Government of India is in touch with Iranian authorities to help facilitate the safe movement of these vessels.
Sources say Tehran has been cooperative in the discussions and is also conscious of the situation of its sailors in India at present. About 250 Iranian sailors are currently in the country, waiting for arrangements to return home. Indian authorities have provided them with temporary accommodation and assistance while efforts are underway to organize their repatriation.
working relationship with both parties
One reason India has been able to deal with the crisis with some diplomatic leeway is that it has maintained a working relationship with all parties involved. Unlike many Western countries, which have long had strained or frozen relations with Tehran, India has kept communication channels open with Iran even during difficult phases marked by sanctions and regional tensions. Over the past few years, New Delhi has tried to strike a careful balance – building strong partnerships with countries like the United States and Israel while also continuing dialogue and cooperation with Iran. This approach does not mean that India agrees with every stance taken by these countries, but rather it allows New Delhi to talk to each side as tensions rise and try to protect its strategic interests.
A prime example of this long-term engagement is India’s involvement in the Chabahar port in southeastern Iran. Both countries see this port as more than just a commercial project. For India, it provides an important trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia that bypasses Pakistan. For Iran, the project represents a lasting partnership with a major Asian economy at a time when many Western companies have backed out due to sanctions. Because of this history of cooperation, there is a certain level of trust in the relationship, which can be vital in moments of crisis – such as the current tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, where diplomatic understanding can help ensure that commercial shipping and energy supplies will continue despite widespread conflict.
Iran needs to maintain oil flows
Another factor shaping Iran’s outlook is the importance of large energy buyers such as India. For years, India was one of the largest importers of Iranian crude, sometimes buying hundreds of thousands of barrels per day. Even after sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program sharply reduced those purchases, commercial ties never completely disappeared from strategic thinking in Tehran. Indian refiners had invested time and infrastructure to process Iranian grades of crude, and before sanctions tightened, trade had become a stable pillar of bilateral relations.
Because of this history, Iran still views India as an important long-term energy partner and a major market that it would not want to lose permanently. At a time when Tehran already faces economic pressure and limited export opportunities, isolating one of Asia’s largest energy consumers would make no strategic sense. So allowing ships belonging to India to pass through the Strait of Hormuz sends a subtle signal: While Iran may be willing to put pressure on its adversaries during the crisis, it is trying to avoid alienating countries that may remain important trading partners in the future.
Why does this matter for India?
About 20-25 percent of the world’s oil trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz and a major part of India’s crude oil imports come through this route. Even a partial disruption could immediately impact shipping costs, insurance premiums and domestic fuel prices.
Therefore, allowing two Indian tankers – Pushpak and Parimal – to cross safely became an important diplomatic and energy-security gesture amid the ongoing war.
Why are tankers from many other countries not able to cross Hormuz?
Many tankers from other countries are unable or unwilling to pass through the Strait of Hormuz due to growing fears of being caught in the escalating conflict. Iran has warned that if tensions continue to escalate, ships belonging to its adversaries could become targets. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials have also said that ships belonging to countries that support military action against Iran cannot be guaranteed safe passage through the waterway. That warning has made shipping companies extremely cautious.
Following several recent attacks on commercial vessels near the strait, many operators have decided to delay their voyages or divert ships rather than risk sailing through the narrow corridor. Insurance costs have also increased, making the route even less attractive.
As a result, traffic through the strait has sharply reduced, with many tankers in the Western-linked fleet choosing to wait outside the area rather than attempt the crossing.
March 13, 2026, 13:17 IST
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