India Caught in Crossfire amid Middle East War; Iran Imposes Conditions for Passage Through Strait of Hormuz

New Delhi: The Strait of Hormuz remains closed due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Consequently, India is facing difficulties in securing its oil and gas supplies. Meanwhile, a report indicates that Iran has requested India to release three tankers that were seized in February. The report describes this request as part of ongoing negotiations aimed at ensuring the safe passage of Indian-flagged vessels—or those bound for India—through the Strait of Hormuz via the Persian Gulf. Recently, two Indian LPG tankers successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz; one has already reached India, while the other is expected to arrive on Tuesday.

What has Iran Demanded?

News agency Reuters, in its report, claims that Iran seeks the release of the three seized Iranian tankers in exchange for ensuring the safe navigation of Indian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. India had detained these three Iranian tankers near its territorial waters in February on suspicion that they were part of Iran's "Dark Fleet." It was alleged that these Iranian tankers had concealed or altered their identities and were involved in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of cargo at sea.

What has Iran Requested from India?

Citing an Iranian official, the report further claims that Iran has also requested a supply of certain medicines and medical equipment from India. Sources revealed that Iran's Ambassador to New Delhi met with officials from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Monday to discuss this matter. Given the sensitivity of the issue, the sources declined to be identified. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi, and Iran's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Has Iran agreed to India's demands?

According to Indian officials, Iran recently granted permission for two Indian Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tankers to pass through the strait, and one of them returned to western India on Monday. Since the outbreak of conflict in the region, maritime traffic on both sides of the strait has come to a near standstill. When asked about ongoing discussions aimed at ensuring the safe passage of Indian vessels, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated on Monday that recent developments reflect a history of "mutual engagement and interaction."

What did External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar Say?

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has stated that India does not have any "pre-determined agreement" with Iran regarding the transit of Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, and that "the movement of each vessel is a distinct event." In an interview with the *Financial Times*, Jaishankar noted that two Indian-flagged tankers were able to traverse this critical route as a result of discussions held between New Delhi and Tehran.

Is India Engaged in Dialogue with Iran?

In the interview given in Brussels, Jaishankar remarked, "I am currently in dialogue with them (Iran), and my conversations have yielded certain results. This process is ongoing. If I am achieving results through this approach, I will naturally continue to pursue it." Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz—a narrow maritime transport route situated between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Approximately 20 percent of the world's oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) supplies pass through this route.