Indian Navy deploys warships near Persian Gulf as ships transit Strait of Hormuz: Report

Indian Navy deploys warships near Persian Gulf as ships transit Strait of Hormuz

Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, several Indian Navy warships deployed near the Persian Gulf are on standby to assist merchant vessels sailing towards India, sources told ANI.

Officials said the naval deployment aims to provide support and reassurance to commercial ships transiting the volatile region as tensions continue to rise in West Asia.

➜ Indian warships deployed near the Persian Gulf

➜ Indian warships to assist vessels

➜ Navy to guard vessels coming towards India

Indian vessels granted transit through Strait of Hormuz

Two India-flagged vessels carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were recently granted passage through the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian authorities.

One of the ships, Shivalik, was last reported by vessel traffic monitoring platforms to be sailing in the Gulf of Oman and is expected to reach its destination by March 21.

Two Indian-flagged vessels, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, are expected to reach the Gujarat coast within the next few days.

India monitoring maritime traffic in region

On Friday, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways said 24 India-flagged vessels carrying 668 Indian seafarers were operating in the Persian Gulf region.

Another 76 Indian seafarers were on board three vessels located east of the Strait of Hormuz.

The ministry said the Directorate General of Shipping is coordinating with shipowners, Recruitment and Placement Service License (RPSL) agencies, and Indian missions abroad to track vessel movements and ensure crew safety.

Since activating a 24-hour control room, authorities have handled over 2,425 calls and 4,441 emails while facilitating the safe repatriation of more than 223 stranded Indian seafarers.

Iran assures safe passage for India-bound ships

Iran’s Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali said Tehran will allow safe passage for vessels bound for India through the Strait of Hormuz despite the ongoing conflict.

Responding to a question on whether Iranian authorities would allow India-bound ships to transit the key energy corridor, Fathali said:

"Yes. Because India and I are friends. You can see the future, and I think that after two or three hours. Because we believe that. We believe that Iran and India are friends. We have common interests; we have a common fate."

He emphasised the shared relationship between the two countries, adding:

"Suffering of the people of India is our suffering and vice versa. And for this reason, the government of India helps us, and we should help the government of India because we have a common fate and common interest."

Meanwhile, Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, the representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in India, said Iran never intended to block the Strait of Hormuz, though shipping activity has slowed due to the security situation.

Monitoring ships under Operation Sankalp

Indian naval patrols in the region are being conducted under Operation Sankalp, a long-running maritime mission aimed at ensuring the safety of Indian shipping and maintaining stability in key sea lanes.

Under the operation, naval vessels escort merchant ships and maintain surveillance across critical maritime routes linking the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea.

Officials say the deployment is meant to ensure that cargo vessels bound for India can continue their journey safely despite rising maritime risks.

‘Strait of Hormuz is open’: Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strait remains open to most countries but vessels linked to the United States and Israel are barred amid the ongoing conflict.

“As a matter of fact, the Strait of Hormuz is open,” FM Abbas Araghchi said.

Why the Strait of Hormuz matters

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most strategically important maritime chokepoints in the world, with a significant share of global oil supplies passing through the narrow corridor each day.

For India, the route is particularly critical, as a large share of the country’s crude oil imports and commercial cargo transits through the waterway.