Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Iran has allowed two India-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers to transit through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Reuters reported citing four sources with direct knowledge of the matter.The development comes as Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, confirmed that Tehran would provide safe passage to vessels bound for India through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical routes for global energy trade.Responding to a question on whether Iran would allow Indian-bound ships safe transit through the strait, Fathali said, “Yes. Because India and I are friends. You can see the future, and I think that after two or three hours. Because we believe that. We believe that Iran and India are friends. We have common interests; we have a common fate.”He also highlighted the mutual responsibility between the two countries. “Suffering of the people of India is our suffering and vice versa. And for this reason, the government of India help us, and we should help the government of India because we have a common fate and common interest,” he added.Meanwhile, Reuters, citing two sources and shipping data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence, reported that a crude oil tanker carrying Saudi Arabian oil is expected to arrive in India on Saturday after transiting the Strait of Hormuz around March 1.Separately, Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi criticised the United States over its stance on Russian oil, saying Washington is now “begging” countries, including India, to buy Russian crude despite earlier pressure to stop such imports.In a post on X, Araghchi said, “The US spent months on bullying India into ending oil imports from Russia. After two weeks of war with Iran, White House is now begging the world–including India–to buy Russian crude.”He also criticised European countries for supporting what he called an “illegal war” against Iran.“Europe thought backing illegal war on Iran would win US support against Russia. Pathetic,” he said.
