Iran reaffirms ties with India as eighth LPG carrier safely transits Hormuz Strait

The Green Sanvi crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday carrying roughly 46,650 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas—the eighth Indian-flagged vessel to make the passage safely since late February, when tensions between the United States and Iran ignited into open conflict. The ship's successful transit prompted Gujarat's deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi to declare it another win for Indian diplomacy, a characterization that drew an immediate response from Iran's consulate in Mumbai.

The Iranian diplomatic mission used the moment to reaffirm something older than current geopolitics: the historical bonds between India and Iran stretching back centuries. In a post on social media, the consulate noted that Gujarat and India hold a cherished place in that shared past, having long welcomed people from Iranian lands. The message carried weight precisely because it arrived amid real danger. The Hormuz Strait, through which roughly one-third of the world's seaborne oil passes, had become a flashpoint. Yet Indian energy shipments were moving through it, and Iran was signaling that Indian interests would be protected.

The steady flow of Indian vessels through the chokepoint reflects something less visible than headlines about military posturing: New Delhi's careful diplomatic work with Tehran. India ranks among the countries with the highest number of ships transiting the strait since the conflict began. Before Green Sanvi, seven other Indian carriers had made the crossing—the Shivalik, Nanda Devi, Jag Laadki, Pine Gas, Jag Vasant, BW Tyr, and BW Elm. Each successful passage was a small affirmation that the relationship between the two countries could withstand the regional turbulence.

The timing mattered. Just days earlier, another Indian vessel, the MT Jag Vasant, had delivered 47,000 metric tonnes of LPG to Gujarat's Vadinar terminal on March 28. That cargo was being prepared for a ship-to-ship transfer at anchorage—a delicate operation in contested waters. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy had positioned warships on standby to assist merchant vessels navigating the strait. At a joint briefing, Mukesh Mangal, an additional secretary in the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways, confirmed that all eighteen Indian vessels and approximately 485 seafarers operating in the Persian Gulf remained under close observation and were safe.

Iran's reassurances came explicitly. On April 2, Iran's official social media account addressed Indian concerns directly: "Our Indian friends are in safe hands, no worries." The same message appeared from the Iranian embassy in Saudi Arabia, which added a territorial note—that only Iran and Oman would determine the future of the strait—before repeating the promise of safety. These were not casual remarks. They were statements of intent, designed to signal that despite the broader conflict roiling the region, the specific corridor through which Indian energy flowed would remain open.

What emerged from these exchanges was a picture of two countries managing a delicate balance. Iran needed to demonstrate that it could protect commerce and maintain relationships with major trading partners. India needed reliable energy supplies and the assurance that its ships could move freely. The Iranian consulate's invocation of civilisational ties—the centuries-old welcome extended to Iranian peoples in Indian ports—was a reminder that this relationship existed on a plane deeper than immediate strategic calculation. It was historical, cultural, rooted. That foundation, both sides seemed to be saying, would hold even as the region burned around them.