Iran said that Tehran has not imposed any fees on Indian oil and gas tankers that have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since these accusations emerged after the US-Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic in late February.
This comes after the US President Donald Trump criticized Tehran for imposing “losses” and described it as “global blackmail.” Trump pledged to prevent the passage of ships that pay money to Iran.
“You can ask the Indian government whether we have made any accusations so far,” Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Fateh Ali told reporters at a press conference at the Islamic Republic’s embassy in New Delhi.
He added, “In this difficult time, we have good relations. We believe that Iran and India have common interests and a common destiny.”
About half of India’s crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
What did India say?
After a temporary ceasefire was reached earlier last week, the Indian Foreign Ministry said that there was “no discussion at all” on the issue of casualties between India and Iran.
“Yes, we have also seen some reports [about toll being levied]…We continue to advocate for free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. “We made this point in our statement yesterday as well, and we continue to do so now as well,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said Thursday at an inter-ministerial press conference on the West Asia crisis.
Reports of Iran imposing tariffs emerged before the truce as well, while India was given right of passage as a “friendly” country by Iran. But has India paid a price too? New Delhi has categorically denied paying any such amount.
“On the issue of the number of casualties… there has been no discussion on that point between us and Iran,” Jaiswal said again on April 9. “So that is where we are. As for what the scenario would be if a certain situation or event were to arise in the future, we will see when the time comes. But our view at this point is that we continue to advocate free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.”
At least eight Indian-flagged LPG tankers have passed through this route, while the government has regulated usage, and prices in the gray market have risen to as much as 4 times the normal rate.
India relies heavily on West Asia for oil and gas, as it imports up to 90% of its supplies, most of which pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
