Trump speaks to Modi, discusses need to keep Strait of Hormuz open
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United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday spoke with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with both leaders stressing the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said in a social media post.
“President Donald Trump just spoke with Prime Minister Modi. They discussed the ongoing situation in the Middle East, including the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open,” Gor said in a post on X.
Later, in a post on X, PM Modi said he had received a call from President Trump and that the two had had a “useful exchange of views” on the situation in West Asia.
“Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world. We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability,” he said.
On Monday, Trump said in a social media post that Washington had held “very good and productive” talks with Iran, as he ordered a five-day pause in military action planned against Iranian energy infrastructure. However, Iranian officials and state media denied being engaged in any “direct or indirect” negotiations with the US, and portrayed the development a result of Iran's "firm warning" to the US.
Even as Iranian officials and media have taken to mocking Trump's claim of being in negotiations to reach a deal with Tehran, there have been several reports of top Iranian leaders considering negotiations with the US.
President Trump, however, revealed that the US is currently in negotiations with a "top person" within the Iranian regime to conclude the war. However, he clarified that these high-level discussions do not involve the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
Earlier in the day, reports had suggested that the US was looking for a potential leader in Tehran to negotiate with and that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian Parliament, is being seen as a potential negotiator for such talks.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi, who spoke in Rajya Sabha today, assured the nation that India has sufficient crude oil reserves and robust arrangements for continuous supply despite the West Asia conflict that has shut off access to the critical Strait of Hormuz, through which most of India's energy imports - crude, LNG, CNG, and LPG - must pass.
India, which is heavily reliant on West Asian nations for its energy imports, is currently dealing with a shortage of LPG, which is widely used across households as well as restaurants for cooking, besides being a key input in various industrial processes.
"The Hormuz Strait is one of the largest routes for global trade. A significant amount of transport related to crude oil, gas, and fertilisers takes place through this region... Our endeavour is to ensure that oil and gas supplies reach India from wherever possible. The country is witnessing the results of such efforts. In the past few days, ships carrying crude oil and LPG from several countries have arrived in India. Our efforts in this direction will continue in the coming days as well," PM Modi said.
Separately, PM Modi also held talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. "Spoke with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and discussed the evolving situation in West Asia, with particular focus on disruptions affecting global energy security," he said.
"We reviewed progress on key initiatives aimed at strengthening India-Sri Lanka energy cooperation and enhancing regional security. As close and trusted partners, we reaffirmed our commitment to work closely together in addressing shared challenges," PM Modi added.
In another post on X, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared that he met Iranian Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali. "Met with with Dr. Mohammad Fathali this afternoon. Discussed the conflict in West Asia. Appreciate the support provided to Indians in Iran in these challenging times," he said in his post.
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