At a high-profile gathering in New Delhi, Iran’s top diplomat in India, Mohammad Fatemi, struck a defiant tone on Saturday. Speaking at the annual India Today Conclave, he revealed Tehran’s approval for Indian ships to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, despite ongoing regional turmoil.
Drawing on centuries-old ties between the two nations, Fatemi assured continued facilitation. Two key LPG carriers from India’s Shipping Corporation – Shivalik and Nanda Devi – have cleared the strait and are nearing Indian shores. He sidestepped specifics on numbers but committed to monitoring operations closely.
The backdrop is Iran’s retaliation against US military installations following a tragic strike. Fatemi lambasted a US-launched Tomahawk missile that obliterated a girls’ school in Iran, claiming 170 young lives. ‘We announced we won’t touch your property inside your country, but our schools were hit by missiles from a neighboring base,’ he argued passionately.
Tehran, he stressed, favors peace talks but won’t back down. ‘Iran is ready for negotiation and war – we prefer the former. But heed this: we’re prepared for combat. You might ignite it, but extinguishing it? That’s not in your hands.’
Fatemi also updated on a delayed call between Prime Minister Modi and President Pezeshkian, hampered by conflict-related tech glitches. With the Hormuz strait pivotal to 20% of global oil and gas flows, and more Indian vessels awaiting clearance, the envoy’s words amplify concerns over supply chain disruptions and geopolitical flashpoints.