Iran will allow Indian-flagged tankers to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. A conduit for 40% of the South Asian nations’ crude Imports, the Indian government source said on Thursday, but the Iranian source denied that any such deal was reached.
India said on Thursday that the foreign minister had three recent conversations, the latest focused on shipping safety and India’s energy security.
Foreign ministry spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said in a weekly media briefing, ‘’Beyond that, it would be premature for me to say anything’’.
The Suezmax Tanker Shenlong, carrying Saudi crude, reached the port in Mumbai on Thursday after transit in Hormuz. According to LSEG data, the Liberia-flagged vessel was the first crude carrier to reach India from the Middle East since the war between Iran and the US.
Indian sources say that two other foreign-flagged tankers are believed to have recently transited the strait bound for India. Iran had given assurance of safe passage for Indian-flagged vessels, after the foreign ministers of both countries spoke on the telephone.
Iran’s foreign ministry said the US should be held accountable for the insecurity and problems arising from the shipment in the Persian Gulf, following talks between India’s S. Jaishankar and his counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi. Neither side agrees to allow safe passage for Indian vessels.
India said the 28 Indian-flagged vessels were operating from the west and 778 sailors were aboard on the east of the Strait.
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The Indian Petroleum Ministry said in a statement that the authorities, recruitment agencies, and ship managers are coordinating closely with local authorities and Indian embassies to ensure safety and provide assistance to Indian seafarers.
