India tells Iran that Hormuz must remain open

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialed the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian yesterday, stressing that “[clear] navigation and commerce” through the Strait of Hormuz are essential to the region’s prosperity, as per a post on X. Modi welcomed the progress made “in the negotiations and expressed hope that continued efforts will lead to lasting peace in the region.”

Iran gets an invite: Modi also extended a formal invite to Pezeshkian to attend the upcoming BRICS Leaders’ Summit to be hosted by New Delhi.

Diplomatic tightrope. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call with Pezeshkian signals New Delhi’s effort to rebuild momentum in ties with Tehran after the recent conflict, while reassuring its Gulf partners that regional stability and securing energy flows remain India’s overriding priorities.

Between Tehran and the Gulf: India has spent the past few years deepening strategic and economic partnerships with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, which together supply the bulk of its energy imports and have become major investors in the Indian economy. Iran, meanwhile, has taken a back seat as US sanctions curtailed energy trade. However, if the US removes sanctions against Iran, energy ties with Tehran are likely to see a gradual revival.