India credits Iran diplomacy for safe shipping passage

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has identified direct diplomatic engagement with Iran as the most effective strategy for maintaining maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. In an interview with the Financial Times, Jaishankar noted that ongoing discussions with Tehran have already produced tangible results for India, contrasting this approach with calls for increased military presence in the region. The diplomatic push comes as United States President Donald Trump urged international partners to deploy warships to the narrow waterway. Trump’s request followed recent escalations involving Iranian forces and military actions by the U.S. and Israel. Writing on social media, the American president expressed hope that nations including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom would contribute naval assets to protect the passage, which handles approximately 20% of the world's oil supply. Jaishankar cited the recent successful passage of two Indian-flagged vessels as a primary example of how diplomacy can resolve maritime security challenges. The liquefied petroleum gas carriers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, transported roughly 92,712 metric tons of cargo through the strait on Saturday. > “Certainly, from India’s perspective, it is better that we reason and we coordinate and we get a solution than we dont,” The foreign minister clarified that there is no formal blanket arrangement for all Indian vessels and emphasized that Iran received no specific concessions in exchange for the safe transit. While acknowledging that European capitals have also maintained contact with Tehran, Jaishankar maintained that each diplomatic relationship must be evaluated on its own merits. > “While this is a welcome development, there is continuing conversation because there is continued work on that,”