No 'blanket arrangement' with Iran for Indian ships in Strait of Hormuz: Jaishankar

Jaishankar described the safe movement of some ships as a welcome development but cautioned that many Indian vessels are still operating in the region and engagement with Iran remains necessary.

• No blanket agreement for Indian ships' safe passage in Hormuz Strait
• Each vessel's transit handled individually, says Jaishankar
• Oil prices surge amid Hormuz conflict risks to energy shipments

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There is no "blanket arrangement" between India and Iran to guarantee safe passage for Indian-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, noting that each vessel's movement is handled individually, the Financial Times reported.

He said every ship transit is treated as a separate case rather than being covered under a single overarching agreement, adding that discussions with Tehran are ongoing, the Financial Times reported.

Jaishankar described the safe movement of some ships as a welcome development but cautioned that many Indian vessels are still operating in the region and engagement with Iran remains necessary, the Financial Times reported. He also stressed that the arrangement is not based on any exchange of concessions and instead reflects the longstanding relationship between the two countries, the Financial Times reported.

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Oil markets have been closely watching the situation in the region. Crude prices closed above $100 last week for the first time since August 2022, with analysts warning that prices could continue rising if the conflict drags on into the coming months, the Financial Times reported. Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said last week that the country's military would continue to block the strategic waterway, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies previously transited, the Financial Times reported.

Diplomatic efforts are also underway in Europe. Countries including France and Italy have opened talks with Tehran in search of a diplomatic solution that could allow energy shipments to resume, the Financial Times reported.

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with CBS that Tehran is "open" to countries seeking to discuss "safe passage of their vessels", the Financial Times reported.

Jaishankar made the remarks ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, where discussions are expected to include whether to expand the mandate of the EU's Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea to also cover the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported. The mission currently consists of three warships from France, Italy and Greece, the Financial Times reported.

When asked whether European countries could replicate India's approach, Jaishankar said each relationship with Tehran stands on its own merits and is shaped by different dynamics, the Financial Times reported. He added that India would be willing to share details of its engagement with EU capitals, noting that many countries have already been holding their own conversations with Iran, the Financial Times reported.

He also emphasised that the engagement with Iran is not transactional and described the conflict as "very unfortunate", the Financial Times reported. Jaishankar added that while the safe passage of some ships is encouraging, continued dialogue is necessary as more vessels navigate the region in the coming days, the Financial Times reported.