India says it is not in talks on any coalition to help reopen Strait of Hormuz
India has stepped up diplomatic engagement with Iran to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, preferring dialogue with Tehran as an alternative to the military approach advocated by US President Donald Trump and Israel.
India today (16 March) said it is "not in any bilateral talks" on being part of any coalition to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for energy supplies from the Persian Gulf.
"We are aware this matter is being discussed bilaterally by several countries. We have had no such bilateral discussion yet," Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, told a press briefing in New Delhi. He was asked if Indian navy ships could be committed to such an operation.
India has stepped up diplomatic engagement with Iran to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, preferring dialogue with Tehran as an alternative to the military approach advocated by US President Donald Trump and Israel.
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As of now, only three-four Indian ships have managed passage through the strait, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the Financial Times.
Jaishankar said his talks with Iranian officials have yielded results and that the communication continues.
Noting that "many more" Indian-flagged ships are yet to cross the Strait, he clarified that every vessel moved through the key waterway on a case-by-case basis and there was no "blanket arrangement" with Iran on the matter.
