External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. File.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar has hailed direct talks with Iran as the best means to restart transport by means of the Strait of Hormuz, in an interview with the Financial Times printed on Sunday (March 15, 2026).
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday (March 14, 2026) referred to as on nations to ship warships to maintain the Strait of Hormuz open for transport as Iranian forces reply to U.S. and Israeli assaults on Iran.
Read | Iran-Israel war updates on March 15, 2026
Mr. Trump, in a submit on his Truth Social, mentioned he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others would send ships to help shield the very important, slim passage by means of which a couple of fifth of world oil passes.
Mr. Jaishankar mentioned he was engaged in talks with Tehran and that “talking has yielded some results.”
Two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas carriers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, carrying about 92,712 metric tons of LPG, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday (March 14, 20260 en path to India. Mr. Jaishankar informed the FT that this was an instance of what diplomacy may convey.
Map of the Strait of Hormuz, a significant chokepoint for world oil shipments linking the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
“Certainly, from India’s perspective, it is better that we reason and we coordinate and we get a solution than we don’t,” he informed the newspaper.
Mr. Jaishankar mentioned there was no “blanket arrangement” for Indian-flagged ships and that Iran had not acquired something in change.
When requested whether or not European international locations may replicate India’s association, Jaishankar mentioned every relationship with Iran “stands on its own merits,” making comparisons troublesome, although he added he could be pleased to share India’s strategy with EU capitals and famous that many had additionally held talks with Tehran.
“While this is a welcome development, there is continuing conversation because there is continued work on that,” he informed the FT.
Published – March 16, 2026 01:21 am IST
