Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and PM, Mohammed bin Salman amid the ongoing war in West Asia, emphasising the need to ensure freedom of navigation and secure shipping routes.
In a post on X, PM Modi said he discussed the evolving regional situation with the Saudi leadership. The PM reiterated India’s condemnation of attacks on regional energy infrastructure during the conversation.
Both leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and ensuring that shipping lines remain open and secure, particularly in the context of the ongoing tensions.
The Prime Minister also thanked the Saudi Crown Prince for his continued support for the welfare of the Indian community in Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to US President Donald Trump by phone and discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. This was the first call between the two leaders since the U.S. and Israel launched co-ordinated attacks against Iran on February 28.
The US-Israeli war against Iran has all but halted shipping through the strait of Hormuz, but Iran said this week that "non-hostile vessels" may transit the waterway if they coordinate with Iranian authorities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made Tehran's stance clear on Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints. Araghchi told state TV that tankers of five "friendly nations" -- China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan -- would be allowed safe passage. In the same breath, he warned that ships linked to Iran's enemies would continue to face a blockade.
Two liquefied petroleum gas tankers, BW Elm and BW Tyr, crossed the Strait of Hormuz bound for India, according to ship tracking data from LSEG and Kpler.
Source: India Today