In a significant move amid the escalating maritime crisis in the Persian Gulf, Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, suggested that Indian vessels are set to receive safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Fathali indicated that a formal breakthrough regarding India’s access to the critical waterway could manifest within a matter of hours.
"India is our friend," Fathali remarked when asked if Indian tankers would be granted immunity from the current blockade. He added that the world would see the results of this cooperation "within two or three hours," hinting at a rapid diplomatic resolution. The Ambassador’s comments come at a point of extreme tension for global energy markets, as the narrow corridor — responsible for nearly 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports — has been effectively choked by the ongoing regional conflict.
Fathali was quick to highlight the "common faith and interests" shared by New Delhi and Tehran, noting that high-ranking officials in Iran have instructed their embassy to pave the way for closer cooperation with the Indian government. He also expressed gratitude for the support provided by India in "different fields" during the difficult period following the outbreak of hostilities on 28 February.
While the Ambassador’s tone was optimistic, the ground reality remains fraught with risk. Just this week, Iranian naval commanders warned that any vessel attempting to transit the Strait without explicit permission from the Revolutionary Guard could be targeted— a threat punctuated by recent strikes on ships that reportedly ignored Iranian warnings. Although sources have suggested that Indian-flagged tankers like the Pushpak and Parimal have already begun to move safely, the Ministry of External Affairs remains cautious, describing any official confirmation of a safe-passage agreement as "premature.
"For India, the stakes could not be higher. With 28 Indian-flagged vessels currently in or near the conflict zone and over 700 seafarers’ lives in the balance, a guaranteed "green channel" through Hormuz would provide a much-needed lifeline to a domestic energy sector already reeling from supply disruptions and price hikes.
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