ISLAMABAD: Two crude oil tankers were allowed to cross the Strait of Hormuz safely, several news media outlets reported; however, an Iranian source outside the country denied any such deal was reached.
According to the Economic Times, Iran allowed India-flagged tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after talks were held between the two countries at the foreign-minister level.
The agency reported that “safe navigation of tankers via the Hormuz topped the agenda when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi,” where the two discussed the ongoing situation as energy prices soared after US-Israeli strikes on Iran plunged the Middle East into war.
Reuters, quoting an Indian government source, later reiterated the development, stating that Iran would allow Indian-flagged tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
According to a post on the Iranian foreign ministry’s X account, a conversation between the two foreign ministers did take place; however, it only covered regional developments between the two. The post said that the consequences of the war on the Strait of Hormuz were discussed in the meeting.
But, referring to Iran's principled approach to safeguarding shipping security in the Persian Gulf, Iran's foreign minister reminded that the “insecure situation and problems arising for shipping in the Persian Gulf are a result of the aggressive and destabilizing actions of the United States,” the post on X said.
Separately, the Indian Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, said in a post on X that a detailed conversation took place with the Iranian foreign minister on the latest developments regarding the ongoing conflict.
No official confirmation has come from either country on whether a deal was reached to let Indian tankers pass through Hormuz. According to a report on the French state-owned agency, France24, an Iranian source outside the country denied any such deal was reached.
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