【Wen/Observer Net Wang Kaiwen】The flames of war in the Middle East continue to spread, and the Strait of Hormuz, a global energy route, is currently in a de facto blockaded state. This situation has stirred the global energy market, with India, which heavily relies on Middle Eastern energy, feeling particularly acute pain.

However, according to reports from multiple foreign media outlets, Iran has recently allowed some Indian ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar stated that this proves India's diplomatic efforts have "produced results."

According to a report by the Financial Times on March 16, Jaishankar confirmed during an interview that two liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers flying the Indian flag passed through the Strait of Hormuz on March 14.

"I am currently in dialogue with them, and my dialogue has already yielded some results," Jaishankar said. "The dialogue is ongoing, and if it produces effects, I will naturally continue to push forward."

He added, "From India's perspective, it is always better to find solutions through reasoning, coordination, and cooperation than to have no solution at all."

According to Reuters, the two LPG tankers were the "Shivalik" and the "Nanda Devi," carrying about 927,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas.

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, Press Trust of India

Last week, international oil prices broke above $100 per barrel for the first time since August 2022 and are still hovering around that level. Some industry analysts expect that if the conflict continues, prices may rise further.

The Strait of Hormuz is the only passage from the Persian Gulf to the outside world, with more than a quarter of the world's maritime oil and about one-fifth of the world's liquefied natural gas (LNG) transported through it to various parts of the world.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Hashemi emphasized in a speech on the 12th that Iran should continue to use the "closure" of the Strait of Hormuz as a "leverage" to pressure its enemies.

The Financial Times reported that European countries, including France and Italy, have begun to engage in dialogue with Iran to discuss possible diplomatic solutions to restore energy transportation.

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in an interview with CBS on the 15th that Iran is open to discussing "the safe passage of their ships" with countries that wish to do so.

Reuters reported that Iran's ambassador to India, Mohammad Fattahi, confirmed to Indian media on the 14th that Tehran has allowed some Indian ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

It is worth noting that Jaishankar was interviewed before heading to Brussels to attend the EU Foreign Ministers' meeting. This meeting will discuss whether to expand the EU's "Aspis Operation" in the Red Sea to the Strait of Hormuz.

The "Aspis Operation" was launched in February 2024 to protect merchant ships in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and surrounding waters from attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels. It is currently composed of three warships from France, Italy, and Greece.

When asked if European countries could follow India's arrangement, Jaishankar said, "Frankly speaking, every relationship works to some extent based on its own conditions. So, it's hard for me to compare this with other relationships that may or may not have similar conditions."

"I would be happy to share what we are doing with European countries. I know many countries have also had dialogues with Tehran," Jaishankar said.

He revealed that there is no "unified arrangement" between India and Iran regarding ships flying the Indian flag, "each ship's passage is handled as an individual case."

Jaishankar also denied that Iran received any quid pro quo in this process, emphasizing that the "long history of dealings" between the two sides is "the basis for my engagement."

"This is not a matter of quid pro quo. India and Iran have maintained communication. And we believe this conflict is very unfortunate," Jaishankar said.

He added that India and Iran's diplomatic efforts are still in the early stages, and we have more ships there. Therefore, although this is a welcome development, the dialogue is ongoing, and related work is continuing."

According to Reuters, an Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson on the 14th said that after Iran allowed several Indian ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, India is seeking Iran's assurance of safe passage for 22 Indian ships that are stranded.

India is the fourth-largest buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the second-largest buyer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Reuters reported that India consumed 33.15 million tons of cooking gas last year, with an import ratio of about 60%, of which 90% came from the Middle East.

The Indian government has asked domestic refineries to increase the production of liquefied petroleum gas and cut sales to industrial sectors to ensure that household supplies are not affected.

This article is exclusive to Observer Net. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7617697737450062346/

Statement: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial team.