India in talks with Iran to secure Hormuz passage for 8 LPG ships, 28 Indian vessels await return: Sources

A person points at a page on the Marinetraffic website that shows commercial boats traffic on the edge of the Strait of Hormuz near the Iranian coast, in Paris on March 4, 2026. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

India is negotiating with Iran to secure safe passage for LPG shipments and Indian vessels amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to regional tensions. Officials are monitoring the situation to maintain domestic LPG supply and ensure crew safety.

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India is in discussions with Iranian authorities to ensure the movement of liquefied petroleum gas shipments as tensions in West Asia disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to government sources cited by CNN-News18. Officials are monitoring the situation closely as the strategic waterway remains affected by ongoing hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

A government source told CNN-News18 that New Delhi is hopeful of receiving LPG supplies soon and is actively engaging with Tehran to facilitate the movement of vessels waiting near the strait.

Eight LPG tankers waiting near the Strait

According to sources quoted by CNN-News18, eight LPG tankers are currently positioned just before the Strait of Hormuz and are awaiting clearance to move through the route.

Indian authorities are in touch with Iranian officials to help these ships proceed safely. Officials said Iran is cooperating with the process.

The discussions are also linked to humanitarian considerations involving Iranian sailors currently in India. Around 250 Iranian sailors are in the country and are waiting to return home. They have been provided shelter by Indian authorities while arrangements are being made for their travel back to Iran.

The government’s Crisis Management Group is preparing contingency plans to ensure that domestic LPG supply remains stable despite disruptions in the region.

Officials said the group is assessing developments and coordinating with relevant ministries to prevent any major shortage of cooking gas.

India heavily dependent on LPG imports

India relies heavily on imports to meet its LPG demand. About 60 to 67 percent of the country’s LPG requirement is sourced from overseas.

A large portion of these supplies comes from Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar and passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Any prolonged disruption in this route could affect LPG availability and supply chains across India.

The situation has raised concerns about energy security, prompting the government to intensify diplomatic engagement to ensure shipments continue.

Diplomatic outreach to ensure shipping safety

India has been engaged in high-level talks with Iran on maritime security and the safe movement of cargo.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has spoken with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi multiple times since tensions escalated in the region. Shipping safety and energy supplies have featured prominently in those discussions.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the two ministers discussed concerns related to maritime security and energy supplies but said it would be premature to share further details.

Indian ships stranded near Hormuz

India is also negotiating with Iran to secure the safe passage of nearly 28 Indian-flagged merchant vessels stranded around the Strait of Hormuz, according to a PTI report.

The waterway has effectively been shut to many commercial vessels for several days because of heightened military activity linked to the ongoing conflict.

Iran has reportedly not allowed Indian-flagged commercial tankers to transit the strait for the past four to five days.

Shipping ministry special secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha said authorities are tracking 24 Indian-flagged vessels carrying 677 Indian crew members located west of the strait. Four additional vessels with 101 Indian seafarers are positioned to the east.

Officials also said that 78 Indian crew members were aboard foreign-flagged ships involved in recent maritime incidents in the region.

“All Indian vessels and their crews are being actively monitored for their safety and security,” Sinha said.

Maritime attacks raise safety concerns

The shipping disruptions follow a series of attacks on tankers and cargo vessels in the Persian Gulf.

Three Indian seafarers have been killed in separate incidents, one person is reported missing and several others have been injured.

India has condemned attacks on commercial vessels. The external affairs ministry recently criticised an assault on a Thai flagged ship heading to Kandla port in Gujarat that came under fire while sailing through the region.

New Delhi said it “deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks” and emphasised that freedom of navigation and the safety of civilian crew must be protected.

Strait closure raises global energy concerns

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most critical energy corridors in the world, carrying about 20 percent of global oil and gas shipments.

The recent disruption has already pushed global energy prices higher and triggered concern across importing nations.

For India, ensuring the safety of shipping and maintaining steady energy supplies has become a key diplomatic priority as tensions continue in the region.