India is a friend: Iran clears passage for two LPG tankers through Strait of Hormuz

PTC News Desk: Iran has permitted two liquefied petroleum tankers heading to India to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Reuters report on Friday. The development came just hours after Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, suggested that India could be granted safe passage through the key maritime route within the next two to three hours.

The envoy’s comments came amid the ongoing regional conflict, which has placed shipping activity through the narrow channel connecting the Persian Gulf to global markets under heightened scrutiny. Earlier in the day, when asked whether Indian vessels would be able to move safely through the Strait of Hormuz, the ambassador hinted that positive progress was likely soon.

Mohammad Fathali described India as a key partner for Iran and highlighted the shared interests between the two nations in the region. “We believe that Iran and India share common interests in the region,” he said.

ENVOY HIGHLIGHTS LONGSTANDING TIES

The ambassador also spoke about the broader relationship between New Delhi and Tehran, describing it as one rooted in friendship and cooperation.

“We believe that Iran and India are friends. We have common interests, we have common faith,” he added.

Fathali further referred to India’s support for Iran during difficult periods. The Strait of Hormuz is among the world’s most crucial maritime routes, with roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments passing through the narrow waterway.

Any disruption in this corridor can significantly affect energy markets and global trade, including for India, which imports a substantial portion of its crude oil through the region.

Fathali’s comments about potential safe passage for India came as governments and shipping companies continue to closely monitor developments around the Strait amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.