External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has spoken with Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi three times in recent days, with discussions focusing on maritime safety and India's energy security amid tensions in West Asia. Speaking at a press briefing on March 12, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the conversations, according to DD News.
“External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the Foreign Minister of Iran have had three conversations in recent days. The last one discussed issues pertaining to the safety of shipping and India's energy security. Beyond that, it would be premature for me to say anything,” Jaiswal said.
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The most recent conversation between the two ministers took place on March 10 and focused on ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, key routes for global energy trade. The talks also addressed India's concerns about potential disruptions to crude oil and LPG supplies.
Separately, India is examining requests for diesel supplies from neighbouring countries including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, PTI reported. Jaiswal said India is a major exporter of refined petroleum products to countries in its neighbourhood and confirmed that Bangladesh has requested diesel supplies.
He added that diesel exports to Bangladesh have largely continued since 2017 and any decision on additional supplies would be taken after considering India's refining capacity, domestic fuel requirements and overall availability. Requests from Sri Lanka and the Maldives are also under review, keeping India's energy needs in mind.
The MEA also said around 9,000 Indian nationals are currently in Iran, including students, seafarers, businesspeople, professionals and pilgrims.
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According to Jaiswal, many Indians, particularly students, have already returned home following earlier advisories, while several others have been relocated from Tehran to safer locations.
The government is also assisting Indians who wish to leave Iran via land border crossings through Azerbaijan and Armenia, from where they can take commercial flights back to India, he added.
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