PM Modi, Trump discuss ‘importance of keeping Strait of Hormuz open’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Tuesday discussed the Middle East crisis and the “importance of keeping Strait of Hormuz open”, US envoy Sergio Gor said in a post on X.

“President Donald Trump just spoke with Prime Minister Modi. They discussed the ongoing situation in the Middle East, including the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open,” Gor wrote on X.

PM Modi confirmed that he received a call from President Trump and “had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia”.

PM Narendra Modi wrote on X, “India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world. We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability.”

Strait of Hormuz blockade continues

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas shipping route, has been effectively closed amid the ongoing war between the US, Israel and Iran.

The killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 28 February in joint military strikes by the US and Israel, and the subsequent retaliatory strikes and the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, have severely disrupted international waterways and global energy markets.

Modi's statement on Hormuz Strait 

Sergio's comments came after PM Narendra Modi told the Rajya Sabha on 24 March that “about one crore Indians live and work in the Gulf countries" and "safeguarding their life and livelihoods is a matter of great concern for India”.

He said several ships are stuck in the Strait of Hormuz and that Indian crew members are trapped on those ships in large numbers.

“This too is a cause of major concern for India. In such a difficult situation, it is important that India's Upper House sends out a united voice of peace and dialogue,” PM Modi said in Parliament.

“The Hormuz Strait is one of the largest routes for global trade. A significant amount of transport related to crude oil, gas, and fertilisers takes place through this region...,” PM Modi said. He noted that the “movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz has become very challenging”.

“Our endeavour is to ensure that oil and gas supplies reach India from wherever possible. The country is witnessing the results of such efforts. In the past few days, ships carrying crude oil and LPG from several countries have arrived in India. Our efforts in this direction will continue in the coming days as well,” PM Modi added.

Later, Rajesh Sinha, Special Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, said, “No permission is required [to cross the Strait of Hormuz]…it is an international Strait. Permission was not required before. It is not required even today. You definitely assess the situation as to how the safety will be, how one should move, at what time one should move, but still, it is not that permission is required from anyone.”

Trump's ‘very good talks’ claim

Earlier this week, Trump executed another spectacular about-turn, from threatening to escalate the Iran war to announcing "very good" talks to end it, which were denied by the Islamic Republic.

According to AFP, this move could hint at Trump buying time again before sending in US ground troops to try to open up the Strait of Hormuz or seize Iranian oil assets.