New Delhi: Iran has said that its "Indian friends" don't need "to worry" about the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route that has been disrupted since Israel and the United States attacked Tehran on February 28.
"Our Indian friends are in safe hands, no worries," the Embassy of Iran in India said in a post on X on Thursday.
Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping route through which 20 per cent of the world's energy is transported.
Since the conflict began last month, very few ships have been allowed by Iran to cross it.
Iran has said it has permitted "friendly nations", including India, China, Russia, Iraq and Pakistan, passage through Hormuz.
The blockade has resulted in severe disruptions in energy supply to many countries, including India.
At least eight Indian ships have so far exited the Strait of Hormuz. These include two LPG carriers, BW TYR and BW ELM, carrying a combined LPG cargo of about 94,000 tonnes.
As many as 19 ships with LPG, crude oil and LNG meant for India are currently stranded in Hormuz, officials have said.
At an inter-ministerial briefing on the fallout of developments in the Middle East on March 30, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, said 10 foreign-flagged vessels with energy cargo for India are currently stranded. These include 3 vessels with LPG, four crude oil tankers and three liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.
Besides these, there are Indian-flagged vessels. These include three LPG tankers, one LNG carrier and four crude oil tankers. One empty tanker is being filled with LPG.
The vessels were among about 500 ships that were struck in the narrow strait amid the conflict.
