New Delhi: India has opened discussions with Iran on ensuring that its fuel shipments can safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz, as escalating conflict in West Asia threatens the critical maritime chokepoint that carries a large share of India’s oil and gas imports.At the weekly briefing on Thursday, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi had talked about the tensions over the critical supply point which has paralysed energy trade.“EAM and the foreign minister of Iran have had three conversations in the last few days. The last one discussed issues pertaining to safety of shipping and India’s energy security. Beyond that, it would be premature for me to say anything,” Jaiswal said.However, there are no signs, yet, that Iran has accepted India’s requestLater on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had spoken with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian about the “serious situation in the region”, expressing concern over escalating tensions, civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. Modi said the conversation also touched on the safety and security of Indian nationals and India’s concerns about regional stability.Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region.Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.The safety and security of…— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2026The discussions come as the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil trade normally passes, has effectively been shut amid the ongoing US-Israel military campaign against Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory actions in the Gulf. According to the Iranian foreign ministry’s account of that call, Tehran blamed the United States for instability in the Persian Gulf and said the disruptions to vessel traffic were the result of “aggressive and destabilising actions” by Washington.Iran’s new supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who took office after his father Ali Khamenei was killed in the February 28 strikes, issued his first public statement on Thursday in which he signalled that the strategic waterway would remain closed.In remarks read out on Iranian state television, Khamenei said the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed as a pressure tactic against the US and its allies.He also warned that Iran would continue targeting US military bases in the region and could open additional fronts in the conflict if the war persisted.The statement, delivered by a television anchor rather than by Khamenei himself, marked the first remarks attributed to him since he succeeded his father as Iran’s supreme leader.Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have also signalled readiness to enforce Tehran’s position on the waterway.Iran had earlier and warned that vessels attempting to pass through could face attacks.The situation has already affected Indian shipping and crew members operating in the region.At a separate briefing on Thursday, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways, said three Indian seafarers had been killed and one remained missing after a series of maritime incidents involving vessels in the Persian Gulf.Of the 78 Indian seafarers on the affected foreign flagged ships, 70 escaped unharmed and four were injured but are currently stable, he said.Sinha added that India currently has 28 Indian flagged vessels operating in the Persian Gulf region. Of these, 24 ships carrying 677 Indian seafarers are west of the Strait of Hormuz, while four vessels with 101 Indian crew members are east of the strait.“All Indian vessels and crew thereon are being actively monitored for their safety and security,” he said.The death of the third Indian sailor was confirmed by the Indian embassy in Iraq, which said that a US owned crude oil tanker Safesea Vishnu came under attack in the waters near Iraq’s Basra. The remaining 15 Indian crew have been evacuated, the mission stated.For India, the security of shipping through Hormuz has direct implications for energy supplies. Much of the crude oil India imports from producers such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE transits the narrow waterway before reaching the Arabian Sea. About 90% of India’s gas supplies are through the Strait, which has led the government to put restrictions on commercial cylinders.India has so far avoided directly criticising US or Israeli strikes on Iran, even as it steps up diplomatic engagement with regional governments to protect shipping and its diaspora.Meanwhile, MEA spokesperson said that India has received requests from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives for fuel supply.“It bears mention that while diesel exports to Bangladesh have largely continued since 2017, India’s refining capacity, our own requirements, and diesel availability will be factored in while taking decisions. In addition, I would also like to say that we have received such requests from several other countries including Sri Lanka and Maldives, and these are being examined taking into account our own energy requirements and availability that we have,” he said.