‘Indian friends in safe hands’: Iran reassures as Hormuz blockade continues amid West Asia war

E-PaperSubscribeSubscribeEnjoy unlimited accessSubscribe Now! Get features like Iran has sought to reassure India over the safety of its interests in the Strait of Hormuz, issuing a message on social media as tensions escalated sharply in the Gulf region. Despite claims of operational challenges, Iranian officials asserted that Indian vessels will remain unharmed. (Supplychainbrain)In a post on X, the official handle of Iran in India said, “Our Indian friends are in safe hands, no worries.” A similar message was shared by the Iran Embassy in Saudi Arabia, which asserted that “ONLY Iran and Oman will decide the future of the Strait of Hormuz” and added, “You are in safe hands, no worries.” ALSO READ | Trump news LIVE updates: After Trump's speech, Iran warns against US invasion, says not a single person will survive The posts aimed at calming concerns in India and elsewhere over potential disruptions to shipping through the critical waterway. They come against the backdrop of recent statements by Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, who said Tehran would ensure safe passage for Indian vessels despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Speaking in New Delhi, Fathali described India as a “trusted partner” and said its ships would not face difficulties in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global transit route through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes. ALSO READ | Strait of Hormuz: Which countries' ships are allowed to pass through Iran's chokehold and which aren't? However, the situation on the ground remained complex. While Iranian officials have maintained that the strait has not been formally closed, they have acknowledged that ongoing hostilities have created operational challenges for commercial shipping. Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, a representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in India, said vessels are currently facing difficulties passing through the route due to prevailing conditions, even though some traffic continues. The United States has pushed back against Iran’s narrative, with senior officials accusing Tehran of actively disrupting maritime movement. At a Pentagon briefing, US war secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington was working to maintain freedom of navigation in the strait and claimed that Iranian actions were the primary factor hindering transit. ALSO READ | ‘Because India is our friend’: Iran envoy updates on ‘safe passage’ in Strait of Hormuz Recent reports of attacks on vessels have heightened these concerns. According to Reuters, multiple ships have been struck across Gulf waters since the conflict began, including incidents involving explosive-laden boats targeting fuel tankers. The stakes are particularly high for India, which relies heavily on energy imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite Iran's repeated reassurances, statements from Iran’s leadership suggested a more assertive stand. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, in his first address after assuming leadership, has called for the continued use of the Strait of Hormuz blockade as strategic leverage. India is among five countries Iran has designated as “friendly nations” whose ships are allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the others being China, Russia, Iraq and Pakistan. Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More