PM Modi welcomes US-Iran deal, hopes for freedom of navigation soon
India officially welcomed the framework agreement between the United States and Iran that is set to end the 2026 Hormuz crisis, with the government emphasisi...
What Happened
- India officially welcomed the framework agreement between the United States and Iran that is set to end the 2026 Hormuz crisis, with the government emphasising the need for "unimpeded freedom of navigation and the free flow of global commerce" through the Strait of Hormuz.
- The formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding is scheduled for 19 June 2026 in Switzerland, marking the official end of a conflict that began on 28 February 2026.
- Pakistan hosted the Geneva-based negotiations and its Prime Minister confirmed the details of the signing — a significant diplomatic role for Islamabad that positions it as a mediating actor between Washington and Tehran.
- India had already welcomed an earlier, temporary ceasefire in April 2026 and had consistently maintained a stance of de-escalation throughout the crisis, emphasising dialogue and diplomacy as the preferred path to resolution.
- During the crisis, the Ministry of External Affairs held direct diplomatic channels with Tehran, which resulted in the safe transit of two Indian-flagged gas tankers — a practical outcome that demonstrated the value of India's bilateral engagement with Iran even during hostilities.
- India's response reflects its traditional approach of engaging all parties in West Asia without formally aligning with any bloc — a posture that has allowed New Delhi to maintain working relations with the US, Iran, and Gulf Arab states simultaneously.
Static Topic Bridges
Freedom of Navigation — International Law Foundation
Freedom of navigation is a principle of international maritime law that guarantees the right of vessels of all nations to travel through international waters without interference. For straits used for international navigation — such as the Strait of Hormuz — a more specific right called "transit passage" applies under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
- UNCLOS was adopted in 1982 and entered into force in 1994; it is ratified by 168 countries
- Article 38(1) of UNCLOS provides that "all ships and aircraft enjoy the right of transit passage" in straits used for international navigation between one part of the high seas or EEZ and another
- Article 44 reinforces this: "There shall be no suspension of transit passage" — unlike innocent passage (applicable in territorial seas), transit passage cannot be suspended by the coastal state
- Both commercial vessels and warships — including submerged submarines — enjoy transit passage rights
- Iran has ratified UNCLOS but has historically maintained that it reserves the right to regulate (if not close) Hormuz; the international legal consensus rejects Iran's position
Connection to this news: India's invocation of "freedom of navigation" is a deliberate use of internationally recognised legal language, signalling that New Delhi regards the Hormuz closure as a violation of UNCLOS norms — while stopping short of publicly assigning blame to any party.
India's Engagement with Iran — Strategic Calculus
India and Iran share deep historical, cultural, and commercial ties. India is a significant importer of Iranian crude oil (when sanctions permit) and has invested in the Chabahar Port development on Iran's southeastern coast — a strategic project that gives India road and rail access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
- Chabahar Port: India signed a 10-year agreement in May 2024 to operate the Shahid Beheshti terminal; the port is exempt from US secondary sanctions specifically to facilitate humanitarian and connectivity trade
- India imported significant volumes of Iranian crude before US sanctions were tightened post-2018; volumes dropped sharply but informal channels and spot purchases have continued intermittently
- Iran is also a key node in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) — a multimodal route connecting India, Iran, Russia, and Central Asia
- During the 2026 crisis, India's direct diplomatic channel to Tehran secured safe transit for Indian-flagged vessels, demonstrating a unique channel no other Western-aligned country possesses
Connection to this news: India's ability to welcome the deal warmly — while also having already secured practical outcomes through direct Tehran diplomacy — illustrates the strategic value of New Delhi's multi-alignment approach. India gains from both the deal's success and from its independent credibility with Iran.
Pakistan as Mediator — A Shift in Regional Positioning
Pakistan's role as host and mediator for the US-Iran negotiations is a notable development in its foreign policy positioning. Historically, Pakistan has been a close US ally (particularly in the post-9/11 period) while also maintaining strong ties with Iran (sharing a 900 km border) and the Gulf Arab states (which host millions of Pakistani workers).
- The 2026 Iran crisis negotiations held in Pakistan under the "Islamabad Talks" framework (April 2026) and later in Geneva (June 2026) mark a significant mediating role for Islamabad
- Pakistan-mediated peace talks represent a departure from the country's recent period of economic crisis and political instability, and signal an attempt to regain strategic relevance
- China, which is Iran's largest trading partner and has brokered earlier agreements (Saudi-Iran 2023), appears to have played a background supporting role
- India, the US, Iran, Pakistan, and Gulf states all have converging interests in Hormuz normalisation — making the deal broadly acceptable despite differing stances on the broader conflict
Connection to this news: For UPSC purposes, Pakistan's mediating role inverts the typical framing of India-Pakistan rivalry on the global stage — New Delhi and Islamabad are, in this case, aligned on the same diplomatic outcome, though their pathways and leverage points differ entirely.
Key Facts & Data
- Conflict start date: 28 February 2026
- MoU signing date: 19 June 2026, Geneva (Switzerland)
- Mediating party: Pakistan
- India welcomed April 2026 ceasefire and June 2026 MoU
- Two Indian-flagged gas tankers secured safe transit through Indian-Tehran diplomacy before the deal
- UNCLOS Article 38: guarantees transit passage through international straits
- UNCLOS Article 44: explicitly prohibits suspension of transit passage
- Chabahar Port: India holds a 10-year operational contract (2024); exempt from US sanctions
- India's stated position: de-escalation, dialogue, diplomacy; no formal bloc alignment
- INSTC: multimodal corridor through Iran linking India to Russia and Central Asia