Strait Of Hormuz Open For India, No Toll Levied On Its Tankers: Iran Envoy

Indian tankers transiting through the Strait of Hormuz have not paid any tolls to Iran, Tehran’s ambassador to New Delhi said on Monday, after US President Donald Trump vowed to block vessels making payments to the Islamic republic.

He also told News18 India that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open for Indian ships.

“You can ask the Indian government if we have charged anything up to now,” Ambassador Mohammad Fathali told reporters at a briefing at Iran’s embassy.

“In this difficult time, we have good relations. We believe Iran and India share common interests and a common fate,” he added.

Speaking to News18 India, the envoy said Indian ships would continue to receive safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran shares strong and trustworthy

relations with the Indian government. In difficult times, India has proven itself to be a sensitive and reliable partner, and the cultural ties between the two nations remain deep-rooted,” he said.

“Indian ships will continue to receive safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in the future as well,” Fathali said, adding that Iran would soon announce a mechanism for the passage of ships through the waterway.

The envoy also said negotiations could move forward only if the US stopped its “unlawful demands” and respected Iran’s conditions, referring to the stalemate reached during the Islamabad tripartite talks this weekend.

The Indian government has repeatedly denied paying any toll to secure the passage of its vessels. During inter-ministerial briefings following the onset of the conflict in West Asia, officials said no such payments had been made for ships carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) through the route.

Earlier this month, India also said it had held no discussions with Iran on the imposition of any toll.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, speaking at a press briefing, said there had been “no such discussion with Iran” regarding charges on Indian-flagged or Indian-operated vessels.

India has also said that 15 Indian-flagged vessels remain stranded in the Persian Gulf amid the ongoing tensions.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical energy corridor, with about half of India’s crude oil and LPG supplies passing through the route.

(with inputs from Niraj Kumar)