New Delhi: India has not held any discussions with Iran on any toll or transit fee for the Strait of Hormuz, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified.
New Delhi also continues to maintain its position on ensuring “free and safe navigation” through the Strait, the MEA said.
“Yes, we have also seen some reports…we continue to call for free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. We made this point in our statement yesterday as well, and continue to do so now as well,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during the inter-ministerial press briefing on the West Asia crisis on Thursday.
There have been reports in the international media suggesting Iran’s proposal to end the West Asia conflict could include formalising its control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Indian officials, however, maintained that there has been “absolutely no discussion” between India and Iran on any proposed toll or transit fee. It does not pay any such charges for India-flagged vessels passing through the waterway, New Delhi has said, as reported by News18.
“There has been no discussion on this point between us and Iran…we continue to call for free and safe navigation,” Jaiswal added.
The narrow Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It handles nearly a fifth of global oil and LNG shipments.
Despite a ceasefire between the US and Iran being announced, normal movement of vessels through the Strait is yet to start. Some have claimed that Iran has demanded a toll for ships passing through this vital passage, as part of its ceasefire conditions. There has been no confirmation from Tehran though.
While India has been allowed by Iran to move some tankers through the Strait, even when the conflict was at its peak, there are still several several Indian ships stranded in the Persian Gulf.
