New Delhi: With Israeli and Iranian strikes hitting energy facilities in the third week of the Iran war, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, condemning attacks on “critical infrastructure” and stressing the need to keep shipping lanes open, as India continues to grapple with an energy crisis.He said in a post on X that he “spoke with President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and conveyed Eid and Nowruz greetings”, adding that both sides expressed hope that the festive season would bring “peace, stability and prosperity to West Asia”.Spoke with President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and conveyed Eid and Nowruz greetings. We expressed hope that this festive season brings peace, stability and prosperity to West Asia.Condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, which threaten regional stability and…— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 21, 2026Modi said he “condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, which threaten regional stability and disrupt global supply chains”, and “reiterated the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and ensuring that shipping lanes remain open and secure”.He also “appreciated Iran’s continued support for the safety and security of Indian nationals in Iran”.According to an Iranian readout, Pezeshkian said that a prerequisite for ending the war and conflict in the region is the “immediate cessation of aggressions by the US and Israel, along with guarantees against their recurrence in the future”.The Iranian president also proposed that West Asian countries establish a “regional security framework” to ensure peace and stability “without foreign interference”, an obvious reference to US military presence in the Gulf.He also called on the bloc of emerging economies BRICS, under India’s current presidency, to play an “independent role in halting aggressions against Iran and in safeguarding regional and international peace and stability”.This is not the first time Pezeshkian has raised the issue of BRICS in his conversations with Indian leaders since the conflict began. In an earlier call on March 12, he had similarly urged that the grouping play a more active role in addressing the crisis and safeguarding regional stability.India has since indicated that internal divisions within BRICS have made it difficult to arrive at a common position.At a media briefing on March 17, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that there were “several members of BRICS who are involved in it”.The expanded BRICS has both Iran and United Arab Emirates, which has been targeted by Iranian missiles and drones during the ongoing war. “And for that reason, it has been difficult to bridge the gap between the positions that countries have taken. But we remain, continue to be engaged with all the stakeholders,” he added.Modi’s call with Pezeshkian took place after the region witnessed an expanding cycle of attacks centred on energy infrastructure across the region this week. The latest phase of escalation began with Israel targeting Iran’s South Pars gas field, a key component of the country’s domestic energy supply. Tehran responded by widening the scope of its strikes beyond military targets to include oil and gas installations across the Gulf.Iranian ballistic missiles hit Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial city, the world’s largest LNG export hub, while facilities in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait were also targeted.The fallout was felt immediately, with crude and gas prices jumping, compounding the crisis already felt by the paralysis in maritime traffic and supply chains.In Washington, US President Donald Trump said Israel had indicated it would refrain from further attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure, while warning Tehran against continuing strikes on Gulf facilities.These developments formed the immediate backdrop to Modi’s outreach to Gulf leaders earlier in the week, which was the second round of phone conversations dialled by the Indian leadership since the start of the war.In his call with Qatar’s emir following the strike on Ras Laffan, Modi had said India “stands in solidarity with Qatar and strongly condemn the attacks on the region’s energy infrastructure”, while also underlining the importance of “safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz”.Saturday’s conversation is the second direct exchange between Modi and Pezeshkian since the start of the conflict. In their first call on March 12, Modi had raised concerns over the safety of Indian nationals and the uninterrupted transit of goods and energy, while stressing the need for dialogue and diplomacy.External affairs minister S. Jaishankar also spoke with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday. In a post on X, he said the conversation focused on the latest developments in the conflict and its implications for the wider region. This was their fifth exchange since the conflict began.Spoke this evening to FM @araghchi of Iran. Conveyed greetings for Navroz and Eid.Our conversation was on the latest developments regarding the conflict. And its implications for the larger region.— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 21, 2026Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has come under severe strain since the early days of the conflict, as Iran warned vessels not to transit and signalled it could attack ships attempting to pass. Shipping data reports showed hundreds of tankers and other vessels anchoring in the Gulf or waiting near the strait, while traffic through the waterway fell sharply and some ships moved only after receiving clearance or safe-passage approval.India’s tanker movement reflects this evolving situation. Last week, two Indian-flagged LPG carriers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, crossed the Strait of Hormuz safely and are now headed to India. According to the shipping ministry, the vessels were carrying around 46,000 metric tonnes each, together accounting for over 92,000 metric tonnes of cooking gas.At the same time, a large number of vessels remain held up. Officials said 22 Indian-flagged ships with over 600 crew members are positioned on the western side of the strait awaiting movement, including LPG carriers, crude tankers and other cargo vessels.Two Indian LPG carriers, Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, are anchored near Sharjah and preparing to sail after a pause in voyages, with sources telling Reuters that they could depart shortly. In contrast, crude tanker movement has slowed sharply, with no crude oil tankers transiting the strait over a 24-hour period.The staggered movement reflects a controlled and uncertain passage regime. According to Bloomberg, the Iranian Navy has in some cases guided vessels through the strait along pre-approved routes following diplomatic engagement. Citing an unnamed crew member, the report said that one Indian LPG tanker that crossed last week remained in radio contact with Iranian authorities, which verified its details and directed it along a designated course.External affairs minister S. Jaishankar had last week indicated that such movement is the result of ongoing engagement with Tehran. In an interview, he said India’s outreach had begun to deliver outcomes, noting that “my talking has yielded some results” and that discussions with Iran had enabled the passage of Indian-flagged vessels through the strait.He added that each transit is being handled individually, with “no blanket arrangement” in place, and that talks remain ongoing as more ships await clearance.India imports more than 90% of its crude oil, with a large share transiting through the Strait of Hormuz. LPG supplies are particularly sensitive given the scale of imports and limited storage buffers. More than 41 percent of India’s gas imports were from Qatar.The tightening supply situation has forced New Delhi to access alternative sources. With its primary source for gas closed, India has already been looking to other countries, especially the United States.Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Indian refiners are preparing to resume purchases of Iranian crude after the United States issued a 30-day waiver on sanctions for oil already at sea, with clearance and policy direction expected from the government.Estimates indicate that around 170 million barrels of Iranian crude are on vessels at sea. Indian refiners, which have relatively smaller stockpiles, are among those looking to secure these supplies.