External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, on Sunday, hailed the Indian diplomacy at the time of the Israel-US-Iran war, where the vessels of the countries are stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, but New Delhi managed to sail its vessels through the narrow passage by conversation. Speaking to the Financial Times, Jaishankar, who is known for his sharp diplomatic approach, said there was no “blanket arrangement” with Iran for Indian-flagged ships and that “every ship movement is an individual happening”.
The crucial statement from India came amid reports of India, Iran striking a deal to let two Indian oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. The same was echoed by US energy secretary Chris Right during an conversation with NBC News on Sunday. Although Jaishankar did not reject any words on any such deal but clarified New Delhi has been dealing with Tehran on each vessels to allow safe passage through Hormuz.
The response from the top Indian minister came in response to US President Donald Trump calling on countries to send warships to help the US force open the critical waterway for energy markets.
Israel-US-Iran war
Notably, the US President and Israel launched a massive attack on Tehran following months of negotiations. As per the latest Iranian media reports, more than 2,300 people were killed in the US-led Operation Epic Fury. As Iran choked the critical juncture of the oil vessel, the US President called several countries, including China, France, the UK and Australia, to send their warships to the strategic region as the crude oil prices have reached a new high.
ALSO READ: Iran Wants To 'Negotiate Badly' But Isn’t Ready For US Terms, Says Trump
India's diplomacy in Iran war
However, Jaishankar asserted that New Delhi has successfully managed to sail its two vessels following rounds of talks with his Iranian counterparts and other officials. He stressed diplomacy over the war-- a sentiment Prime Minister Narendra Modi had echoed to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the early days of the Ukraine war.
“Negotiations between New Delhi and Tehran allowed for two Indian-flagged gas tankers to pass through the Strait on Saturday. These were an example of what diplomacy could bring,” Jaishankar told FT.
“I am at the moment engaged in talking to them, and my talking has yielded some results. This is ongoing. If it is yielding results for me, I would naturally continue to look at it,” FT quoted Jaishankar as saying during the interview.
“Certainly, from India’s perspective, it is better that we reason and we coordinate and we get a solution than we don’t. So if that sort of allows other people to engage, I think the world is better off for it,” he added.
You may also like to watch