‘India is our friend’: Iranian envoy hints at safe passage of Indian ships through Strait of Hormuz

NEW DELHI: Iranian Ambassador to India Mohammad Fatali said on Friday that Indian ships would soon be able to move safely amid tensions affecting sea lanes in the region, stressing the strong ties between the two countries.Responding to a question on whether Iran would allow safe travel to India, Fatali said the development may be evident soon and reiterated that India remains an important partner for Tehran.

“…Yes, because India is our friend. Within two or three hours you will see it. We believe that Iran and India share common interests in the region…”The comments come as tensions rise in the Middle East, with growing concerns about shipping routes and energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.Separately, Dr. Abdul Majeed Hakim Elahi, Representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader to India, also discussed discussions on allowing Indian ships to transport energy resources.“In fact, there has been some discussion about this and I believe India will benefit from oil, gas and other resources. But I think the full solution is that world leaders have to come together. They should go to the United States and convince President Trump that this war is an unjust war against civilians and must stop. They should also put pressure on the Zionist regime to stop this war. We did not create this war, we did not start this war, we did not start this war… We are ready to share our blood on earth, but we are not ready to sell our dignity. “His comments suggest Tehran expects international diplomatic efforts to push for an end to the ongoing conflict in the region.The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints for oil and gas shipments, and any disruption to shipping in the region would cause concern among major energy importers including India.