Trump Speaks To PM, Discusses Middle East Situation, Strait of Hormuz: US Envoy
New Delhi:
US President Donald Trump spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the cellphone Tuesday night. US Ambassador Sergio Gor mentioned the 2 “mentioned the ongoing situation in the Middle East, together with significance of preserving Strait of Hormuz open”.
This is the primary cellphone name between the 2 for the reason that US-Israel struggle on Iran started. Sources instructed NDTV that peace, stability, and power safety had been a key a part of the Prime Minister’s conversations, as was free motion by way of the Hormuz.
“Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia,” the Prime Minister mentioned after the decision. “India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure, and accessible is essential for the world. We agreed to stay in touch for efforts towards peace and stability.”
Received a name from President Trump and had a helpful change of views on the scenario in West Asia. India helps de-escalation and restoration of peace on the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz stays open, safe and accessible is crucial for the entire world.…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 24, 2026
Sources additional instructed NDTV that India – as a serious purchaser of Middle East oil and fuel – had a ‘direct’ and ‘high-stakes’ curiosity within the re-opening of the Hormuz and is about to play a key position in any peace talks between the US, Israel, and Iran.
The Trump-Modi name got here a day after the US President claimed “very good and productive conversations (with Tehran) regarding a total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East”. Trump mentioned he had ordered the postponement of any deliberate American army strikes on Iranian energy crops and/or power infrastructure for 5 days to permit talks to proceed.
Trump”s post raised hopes of a ceasefire, nevertheless short-term, to combating that has raged within the Middle East since Feb 28 and had a shock impact on the power market, together with driving benchmark Brent crude costs effectively previous the US$100 crimson line.
But days earlier than that Trump threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s energy crops if it didn’t reopen the Hormuz, closure of which has led to gas costs going up within the US and stress being exerted on his administration forward of mid-term polls in November.
NDTV Special | Trump’s Hormuz Deadline. 3 ‘What If’ Scenarios, India’s Energy Shock Brace
Meanwhile, hours earlier than the Trump name, the PM instructed Parliament the war has triggered a “severe energy crisis”.
He mentioned the struggle had disrupted provide of important items like gas, fuel, and fertilisers, all of which India sources, in huge portions, from Middle East nations like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, and all of which have been hit by Iran strikes.
India, nevertheless, has enough shops of crude oil and fuel, the PM mentioned. Junior Petroleum Minister Suresh Gopi instructed the Rajya Sabha the nation had an estimated 3.372 million tons of crude in reserve, aside from shares of refined merchandise.
RECAP | How Much Crude Oil Reserve Does India Have? What Union Minister Said
The PM additionally mentioned he had spoken to Gulf nations and mentioned the necessity for de-escalation in combating and re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz. “Attacks on commercial vessels and obstacles to international navigation are unacceptable,” he mentioned.
The early days of the struggle spotlighted Iran’s asymmetric warfare model, i.e., using cheaply-made, mass-produced Shahed ‘kamikaze’ drones in a struggle of attrition in opposition to Israel and Gulf nations utilizing American-supplied air defence techniques firing multi-million greenback interceptors. But because the combating dragged on the main focus turned to crude oil and fuel provides.
Specifically, power provide from the area turned some extent of concern after the struggle crippled tankers transiting the Hormuz, a slender passage over which Iran exerts geographic management and which is a vital chokepoint for international seaborne power commerce.
Between 20 and 25 million barrels of crude oil – round 20 per cent of the world’s provide – passes by way of it each day.
RECAP | Hormuz Shutdown Affects Asia’s Crude Oil Supply, Pipelines Can’t Cover Loss
As the world’s third largest power shopper, its most populous nation, and its quickest rising main economic system, India depends closely on Hormuz exports to fulfill crude oil wants, which most estimates recommend is 5.5 to 6 million barrels of crude each day.
Pre-war, India imported round half that – 2.1 and a couple of.6 million barrels – from Gulf nations like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait. Shipped by way of the Hormuz, this labored out to round 40 per cent of crude imports of 4.8 to 5 million barrels per day.
But for the reason that combating started solely a restricted variety of oil and fuel tankers have made it previous Iran’s blockade. Another set of two Indian-flagged vessels – carrying liquefied petroleum fuel, or LPG – transited Tuesday, escorted by Indian warships.
RECAP | Warships Escort 2 Indian LPG Tankers In Gulf Of Oman After Hormuz Transit
The two ships are carrying 92,612 tonnes of LPG, mentioned the Ministry of Ports and Shipping mentioned at a information briefing.
