Iran Allows India, China, Russia Access to Strait of Hormuz
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has said that Iran allowed India and a number of other friendly nations, including China and Russia, to use the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping. Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). There have been growing global concerns over disruptions in commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with US President Donald Trump warning Iran of severe consequences if it does not fully reopen the waterway.
The Iranian foreign minister made it clear that ships linked to Iran’s adversaries will not be allowed to transit through the strategic waterway. He added that the region is a war zone, and there is no reason to allow the ships of our enemies and their allies to pass through, But it remains open to others.
In the last couple of weeks, India has made diplomatic efforts focused on ending the conflict in West Asia as soon as possible and ensuring the unimpeded flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz. Also, West Asia has been a major source of India’s energy procurement.
