The Indian government is considering the use of air and sea routes to handle export and imports, amid concerns of cargoes with perishable products getting stranded due to the US-Iran war, according to S Ramakrishna, managing director of Federation of Freight Forwarders' Association.
In a meeting with government officials, which was attended by 75 exporters and shipping sector representatives, Ramakrishna pointed out that the government is concerned about the cargo which is stuck, especially perishable goods.
Therefore, the Centre is working on mitigating import and exports through air and sea mediums, NDTV Profit learnt from Ramakrishna. He noted that stuck vessels carrying crude oil through the gulf have been contacted, and that the government has shared phone number and email IDs to address exporters' concerns amid the current geopolitical row.
After noting all the concerns, Ramakrishna said, the government has created inter-ministerial group on this matter and that another meeting can be called on short notice.
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Escalating Regional Conflict
Hostilities intensified over the weekend after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with hundreds of missiles and drones aimed at targets across the region. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killled in the joint US-Israeli offensive on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump told The New York Times that the assault could continue for “four or five weeks,” signalling the potential for prolonged instability in the region.
Notably, the first wave of US-Israeli strikes on Saturday targeted Tehran's Pasteur neighbourhood, where the compound of Iran's supreme leader is located, along with certain military headquarters.
Iran's Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards Commander Mohammad Pakpour were among those senior officials who were killed in the strikes, news agency Reuters reported on Saturday, citing sources.
ALSO READ: Iran Confirms Supreme Leader Khamenei's Demise, Vows 'Heaviest Offensive In History' Against Israel
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