Building on Enduring Civilizational Bond’: Iran’s Special Message to India as LPG Tanker Crosses Hormuz

Iran has conveyed a message of goodwill to India as fuel shipments continue through the Strait of Hormuz despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia. In a post on X, the Iranian Consulate General in Mumbai said India, and Gujarat in particular, holds a “cherished place” in “our shared history,” responding to Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi’s remarks on the safe passage of an Indian LPG tanker.“India, and Gujarat in particular, hold a cherished place in our shared history; having graciously welcomed those from our land centuries ago,” the consulate said, in an apparent reference to historical links such as the ancient port of Lothal, which connected the Indus Valley to the Persian coast.“Building on this enduring civilizational bond,

we remain committed to further strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation,” it added.

The message came as the Indian-flagged LPG tanker Green Sanvi safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz carrying 46,650 tonnes of cargo with 25 crew members on board, according to a government statement. It is the seventh Indian-flagged LPG vessel to transit the strategic waterway since hostilities began.

Separately, another LPG shipment from Iran has reached Mangalore and is currently being discharged. The vessel Sea Bird, carrying about 44,000 tonnes of Iranian LPG, berthed at the port on April 2, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said. The purchase is seen as India’s first import of Iranian energy in several years, following a temporary easing of U.S. sanctions.After the passage of Green Sanvi, 17 Indian flagged vessels remain stranded on the west side of the strait.Earlier this week, two LPG carriers, BW TYR and BW ELM, carrying combined LPG cargo of about 94,000 tonnes have safely transited the region. While BW TYR reached Mumbai on March 31, BW ELM docked at New Mangalore on April 1. Prior to that, four Indian-flagged LPG tankers had safely sailed through the strait. Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, carrying 92,612 tonnes of LPG, reached Indian ports between March 26 and March 28. MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi, carrying about 92,712 tonnes of LPG, had reached Mundra port in Gujarat on March 16 and Kandla port in the state on March 17, respectively.The US and Israel attacks on Iran and Tehran's sweeping retaliation have all but halted shipping through the strait - the narrow shipping lane that is the conduit for oil and gas exports from Gulf countries to the world. Iran has, however, stated that "non-hostile vessels" may transit the waterway after coordinating with Iranian authorities.

Originally, there were 28 Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz when the war in West Asia broke. Of these, 24 were on the West side of the Strait and four on the East side. Seven vessels from the west side and two from east have managed to sail to safety.Besides the seven LPG tankers, the Indian-flagged oil tanker Jag Laadki, with 80,886 tonnes of crude oil from the UAE, reached Mundra on March 18.Another tanker, Jag Prakash, carrying gasoline from Oman to Africa, had previously safely crossed the strait and is en route to Tanzania.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6-asWvOVOQ

LPG carriers Jag Vikram and Green Asha are still in the western Strait of Hormuz. One empty vessel is being filled with LPG.The statement said all Indian seafarers in the Gulf region are safe and maritime operations remain unaffected, with no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels reported in the past 24 hours.