What Happened
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held their fourth phone call since the outbreak of the Iran-US-Israel conflict, as India intensified efforts to secure safe passage for Indian-flagged merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz
- The conversations have been directly successful: Iran confirmed safe passage for Indian vessels following this sequence of diplomatic engagements
- The call came as India simultaneously co-sponsored a UNSC resolution condemning Iran's attacks on Gulf states — a apparent contradiction that reflects India's multi-track diplomacy
- India's approach distinguishes between: (1) condemning Iran's attacks on civilian targets and sovereign Gulf nations (UNSC position), and (2) negotiating bilaterally on the practical matter of Indian ship safety (bilateral diplomatic track)
- The Strait of Hormuz remains "partially blocked" by Tehran's IRGC enforcement, but diplomatic assurances are creating specific carve-outs for Indian-flagged vessels
Static Topic Bridges
India's Strategic Interests in the Iran-US Conflict: Energy, Diaspora, and Connectivity
India has three distinct but interlinked strategic interests in the Iran conflict: (1) Energy — Iran's Hormuz blockade threatens India's oil and LPG supply chains; (2) Diaspora safety — approximately 9 million Indians live in the Gulf region and nearly 23,000 Indian seafarers work on vessels in the affected waters; (3) Connectivity — India's Chabahar Port investment and INSTC corridor access through Iran are at risk. Balancing these interests with India's commitments as a UNSC resolution co-sponsor and a QUAD member requires exceptional diplomatic dexterity.
- India's energy exposure: 55% of LPG imports, 30% of LNG imports via Hormuz
- Indian seafarers affected: approximately 23,000 in the broader Gulf; 768 on 28 stranded vessels
- Indian nationals evacuated: 215 seafarers from Muscat and Bahrain as of March 13
- Chabahar Port: Operational under India's 10-year contract (2024); provides leverage with Iran
- INSTC: 7,200 km multimodal corridor via Iran; critical for India-Russia trade
- Remittances from Gulf: approximately $40 billion annually — India's largest diaspora remittance source
Connection to this news: The fourth Jaishankar-Araghchi call represents India protecting all three of these interests simultaneously — pressing for Hormuz passage (energy), seeking seafarer safety information (diaspora), and signalling continued partnership in bilateral frameworks (connectivity).
Strait of Hormuz: Legal Status and the Current Crisis
Under international law, specifically UNCLOS Part III (Articles 34-45), the Strait of Hormuz is an international strait used for international navigation. All ships enjoy the right of "transit passage" — defined as continuous, expeditious, and unobstructed transit. This right cannot be suspended even temporarily by the bordering state (Article 44). Iran's current IRGC enforcement — requiring all ships to seek approval before transiting — is a de facto suspension of transit passage rights, constituting a violation of UNCLOS. However, enforcing these rights through international legal mechanisms (ITLOS) would take years and has no enforcement mechanism against a state at war.
- UNCLOS Part III governs: "Straits Used for International Navigation"
- Article 38: Right of transit passage for all ships and aircraft
- Article 44: Straits states shall not hamper transit passage; shall not suspend it
- ITLOS (International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea): UNCLOS dispute body; seated in Hamburg
- ITLOS jurisdiction: Advisory opinions or binding judgments; enforcement relies on state compliance
- US Fifth Fleet: Physically present in Bahrain to protect Gulf shipping; operational since 1995
- Current IRGC enforcement: Approval requirement for all transiting vessels — direct violation of Article 44
Connection to this news: India securing passage through bilateral diplomacy rather than invoking legal rights reflects practical realism — in a hot war, the side with physical control of the strait has more leverage than any legal text.
India's Ministry of External Affairs Crisis Response Mechanisms
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has developed robust crisis response mechanisms over decades of experience managing crises abroad affecting Indian citizens. Key mechanisms include: the MEA Control Room (operational 24/7 during crises), the e-Migrate portal (tracks migrant workers in Gulf countries), the Indian Community Welfare Fund (provides emergency assistance to Indian nationals abroad), and the Indian Naval escort operations. The MEA works in coordination with the Ministry of Ports (for merchant shipping), the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), and Indian Missions abroad.
- MEA 24/7 helpline: +91-11-2301-2113 (activated during overseas emergencies)
- e-Migrate portal: Tracks Indian migrant workers in Gulf ECR (Emigration Check Required) countries
- Indian Community Welfare Fund: Emergency financial assistance for distressed Indian nationals abroad
- DGS 24-hour control room: Activated February 28, 2026; handled 2,425+ calls, 4,441+ emails
- Indian Navy presence: Indian Navy ships deployed in Gulf of Oman for escort and evacuation missions
- Evacuation operations history: Vande Bharat (COVID), Operation Sukoon (Lebanon 2006), Operation Rahat (Yemen 2015)
Connection to this news: The MEA's multi-channel response — senior minister calls, public statements, control room coordination, and Navy deployment — represents India's comprehensive government approach to crisis management in the Hormuz situation.
Key Facts & Data
- Call sequence: 4 calls total (February 28, March 5, March 10, March 13, 2026)
- Outcome: Iran confirmed safe passage for Indian-flagged merchant vessels
- Indian vessels stranded near Hormuz: 28 (24 west of strait, 4 east)
- Indian seafarers on stranded vessels: 768
- Indian seafarers evacuated: 215 (from Muscat and Bahrain)
- Total Indian seafarers in Gulf region: approximately 23,000
- India's LPG via Hormuz: approximately 55%
- India's LNG via Hormuz: approximately 30%
- DGS calls handled: 2,425+; emails: 4,441+
- UNCLOS Article 44: Prohibits suspension of transit passage