Sanjay Raut, MP from the Shiv Sena (UBT), on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to publicly thank Iran after the country allowed Indian tankers to transit the strategically important Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing regional tensions.
Speaking to IANS, Raut said that even though India has strong ties with Israel, the Prime Minister should acknowledge Iran’s gesture of cooperation and what he described as “humanity” toward India.
“If Iran has allowed our containers to pass, then Prime Minister Modi should thank Iran. Even though we stand with Israel, if Iran is showing humanity and cooperating with India, the Prime Minister should express gratitude to Iran publicly,” Raut said.
Iran Assures Safe Passage for Indian Ships
Raut’s remarks came after Mohammad Fathali, Iran’s Ambassador to India, stated that Tehran would ensure the safe transit of ships carrying cargo for India through the Strait of Hormuz.
Fathali emphasised the long-standing diplomatic and economic relationship between Iran and India, saying that Tehran considers India a close partner and would facilitate the movement of vessels despite escalating tensions in the region.
Oil Tankers Successfully Reach Mumbai
Amid the ongoing conflict affecting maritime traffic in the Gulf region, at least one foreign-flagged vessel carrying crude oil for India successfully crossed the war-affected Strait of Hormuz and reached Mumbai.
According to vessel tracking data and industry sources, another large oil tanker is also expected to arrive at Indian ports within the next couple of days.
India’s Heavy Dependence on Oil Imports
India remains the world’s third-largest importer of crude oil and depends heavily on overseas supplies. Around 88 percent of India’s oil demand is met through imports.
The country consumes roughly 5.8 million barrels of crude oil per day, of which nearly 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels come from West Asian nations such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates through the Strait of Hormuz.
The critical maritime route also handles nearly 55 percent of India’s LPG (cooking gas) shipments and around 30 percent of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, which are used for electricity generation, fertiliser production, CNG fuel and household cooking.
Supply Disruptions Impact Businesses
The disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have already begun affecting multiple sectors across India.
Shortages of LPG and energy supplies have forced several businesses, including restaurants, ceramic factories, fertiliser plants and even facilities like crematoriums, to slow or temporarily halt operations. Reports also suggest that a canteen in the Delhi High Court faced difficulties due to supply disruptions.
To manage the crisis, the Indian government has prioritised household cooking gas and transportation fuels. Authorities have instructed refineries to maximise LPG production by reducing petrochemical feedstock output.
Export-oriented plants, including those operated by Reliance Industries, have reportedly been directed to avoid using LPG as feedstock so that more supplies remain available for domestic consumption.
With tensions in West Asia continuing to disrupt global energy supply chains, the situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains a major concern for India’s energy security.
