Iran, India in touch on passage of ships through Strait of Hormuz: Envoy Mohammad Fathali

What Happened

Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, stated that India and Iran are in active diplomatic contact regarding the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
The contact reflects India's urgent effort to protect its oil supply chain, as approximately 50% of India's crude oil imports transit through the strait.
India adopted a calibrated diplomatic approach — maintaining contact with Iran while not joining any military coalition against it, consistent with India's "strategic autonomy" foreign policy posture.
Envoy Fathali's public statement signals Iran's willingness to use Indian shipping as a diplomatic lever — reassuring a key oil customer while the broader conflict continues.
The development comes as India resumed limited oil imports from Iran after a seven-year hiatus (last imports were in 2019, halted due to US sanctions).

Static Topic Bridges

India-Iran Bilateral Relations: Foundations and Fault Lines

India and Iran share historically deep civilisational ties and strategic convergences. India was one of Iran's largest oil customers until 2019, when it halted imports under US sanction pressure (CAATSA — Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). India uses the Chabahar Port in Iran as a gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia, exempted from US sanctions.

Chabahar Port is located in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province on the Gulf of Oman
India has invested in developing Shahid Beheshti Terminal at Chabahar Port
Chabahar forms part of India's strategic connectivity to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) — a multi-modal route connecting India to Russia and Central Asia via Iran
India-Iran oil trade was at its peak around 2018-19 when Iran was India's third-largest oil supplier
In 2026, India resumed limited oil imports from Iran, its first purchases in seven years

Connection to this news: Iran's ambassador publicly acknowledging India-Iran contact on Hormuz passage reflects the importance of India as a customer and diplomatic partner for Iran even during the conflict. India's Chabahar investment gives it additional leverage in these diplomatic contacts.

Under international law, the Strait of Hormuz qualifies as a strait used for international navigation, giving all vessels the right of "transit passage" under Part III of UNCLOS (Articles 37-44). Transit passage applies to all ships — merchant and warship — and cannot be suspended by the coastal state (Iran) even in peacetime.

Iran is a signatory to UNCLOS; however, Iran has contested the transit passage regime, asserting that straits within territorial waters require permission
The navigable channel of the Strait of Hormuz is approximately 33 km at its narrowest; the shipping lanes are 3 km wide each
In February-March 2026, Iran effectively closed the strait to third-party vessels, a move widely condemned as a violation of UNCLOS transit passage rights
The Iran-Oman joint maritime rescue center historically coordinates vessel safety in the strait

Connection to this news: India's diplomatic contacts with Iran seek Iranian assurances of safe transit passage for Indian-flagged or India-bound vessels, leveraging the international legal framework alongside bilateral ties.

India's Energy Diplomacy: Balancing US Relations and Energy Security

India's approach to energy security involves diversifying suppliers while balancing geopolitical relationships. The "strategic autonomy" doctrine allows India to import from sanctioned countries when national interest demands, while managing diplomatic fallout through bilateral dialogue.

India imports more than 85% of its domestic oil needs
Before the 2026 crisis, India had increased non-Hormuz sourcing to approximately 55% of crude imports (this rose to ~70% during the war crisis)
Russia's share of India's crude oil imports rose from 1% in 2017 to 36% by 2024, reducing Gulf dependency
India's Gulf dependency for crude declined from 72% in 2017-18 to ~46% by 2024
India cut fuel taxes during the 2026 energy crisis and imposed export duties to protect domestic supply

Connection to this news: India's contact with Iran over Hormuz passage is a direct application of its energy diplomacy — using bilateral channels to protect the 50% of crude still transiting the strait rather than depending solely on military alternatives.

Key Facts & Data

Approximately 50% of India's crude oil imports transit the Strait of Hormuz
India imports more than 85% of its domestic oil needs
India-Iran oil trade was halted in 2019 due to US sanctions (CAATSA); resumed partially in 2026
Chabahar Port is in Sistan-Baluchestan province, on the Gulf of Oman — not on the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz's navigable shipping lanes are each 3 km wide
India's Gulf crude dependence declined from 72% (2017-18) to ~46% (2024)
Russia became India's top single-country crude supplier at ~36% share by 2024