India’s quiet diplomacy with Iran yields results

New Delhi: India has engaged in quiet diplomacy with Iran over the past two weeks besides phone calls at the leadership and Ministerial levels to secure its energy rights including through the Straits of Hormuz.

While giving protection to Iranian Navy ship IRIS Lavan in Kochi contributed to Tehran's decision to allow safe passage to Indian tankers via Hormuz Straits, regular conversations between Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi since February 28 contributed to building trust.

The two Ministers devoted substantial part of their conversations on the stability of the Straits of Hormuz but the Indian readouts did not reveal details of the conversation. Subsequently, number of Indian flagged tankers passed through the Straits of Hormuz unscathed. The Ministry of External Affairs and other wings of the government have engaged in regular conversations with the Iranian side while the war clouds were gathering on the horizon.


Also Read | India says no talks with US on Strait of Hormuz security amid Weat Asia war: Report

The phone call between PM Narendra Modi and the Iranian President focused on energy security among other issues and addressed the narrative that Iran is deliberately blocking Indian tankers via Hormuz Strait. This phone call was also useful signaling India’s balanced approach to the crisis.

It is also understood that the two sides were also engaged in backchannel diplomacy through certain political figures in India who have connections with Iran. These conversations also boosted confidence, according people familiar with the matter. Earlier the Indian Foreign Secretary visited the Iranian Embassy to sign condolence book that was opened in memory of the slain Supreme Leader.

The government informed on Saturday that it has repatriated the non-essential crew members of IRIS Lavan that docked in Kochi on March 4 amid the escalating military conflict between Iran and the US. The repatriation request came from the Iranian side.

Also Read | Trump presses seven nations to deploy warships for Hormuz security as oil prices surge amid Iran war

Over 50 of the 183 crew members have stayed back as the ship, IRIS Lavan, remains in Kochi. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the ship's non-essential crew members, as well as several stranded Iranian nationals, left India on board a chartered flight arranged by Tehran.

Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, has said on record that Tehran will ensure safe passage to vessels bound for India through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, citing ‘friendly relations’ between the two nations.