New Delhi: Iran on Monday (April 13) indicated that it is coordinating with India to ensure the movement of Indian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, even as a US naval blockade targeting Iranian shipping has come into effect.Speaking at a press conference in the capital, Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, said Tehran was in touch with New Delhi on the issue of shipping through the strategic waterway. “We have a good relationship with the Indian government. And we want … a good preparation for the ships of India,” he said.He also linked this approach to the broader relationship between the two countries, stating: “We as Iran and India have a common interest … I believe that Iran and India have [a] common fate in the region.”The remarks come as the US begins enforcing a naval blockade of vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports. President Donald Trump has said US forces would interdict such shipping, escalating tensions in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.On whether Indian vessels would be required to pay a transit fee if Iran formalises control over the strait, the envoy did not give a direct answer. “You can ask from the Indian government if they charge anything up to now or not,” he said.The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had earlier this month denied that there had been any discussion about payment for the passage of tankers between India and Iran.So far, nine Indian-flagged ships have transited the strait since Iran began restricting movement after the outbreak of fighting. In total, only around 30 vessels have passed through the waterway since February 28, a steep fall from the usual daily traffic of over 100 to 120 ships in peacetime.Reports from international media and maritime analysts suggest that Iran has tightened control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with vessels subject to increased vetting and, in some cases, informal payments to secure passage.While some accounts from shipbrokers and analysts indicate that fees could run into the millions of dollars per tanker, there is no confirmation of a uniformly applied per-barrel toll or a formally structured system run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Only a limited number of ships are reported to have made such payments, with many transits continuing through diplomatic or commercial arrangements.Any attempt to impose transit fees in the strait would also raise serious legal questions under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.Fathali reiterated Iran’s position that the Strait of Hormuz constitutes its territorial waters. At the same time, he said Tehran remains committed to international law and freedom of navigation, adding that a mechanism governing passage through the waterway would be announced in the near future.Fathali also spoke about the humanitarian impact of the conflict, alleging that US strikes had hit civilian infrastructure in Iran. He said health facilities were among the sites affected and referred to casualties among non-combatants. “They attacked our civilians, our infrastructure, even our hospitals,” he said, describing the suffering endured by the Iranian people during the conflict.Embassy sources said Iran had also mobilised support in India to address shortages arising from the conflict. A specially created bank account received donations, which were used to procure medicines from India at market rates.According to the sources, two aircraft loads of medicines, totalling around 45 tonnes, have already been transported in special flights operating from Mashhad to Delhi and back by Mahan Air. A third consignment of roughly 20 tonnes was flown to Iran on Monday. Most of the supplies are intended for the treatment of the injured, the sources said.After 40 days of fighting, a two-week ceasefire was announced by the two sides on April 8 to hold talks. Iran and the US held their highest-level face-to-face meeting in Islamabad over the weekend, but the 21 hours of discussions ended without a deal.US Vice President JD Vance said Iran refused to commit to not developing nuclear weapons, while Iranian officials blamed “excessive” demands by Washington.The Iranian envoy struck a hard line on negotiations with Washington, citing past experience. “We have not forgotten and we will not forget the US history [of] breaches of commitment and ill intention,” he said.Fathali spoke to the media flanked by a placard depicting photographs of schoolchildren who died in a US military strike on a school in Minab on the first day of the war. The embassy had also displayed paintings made by the children.He said Iran remained open to talks, but on its own terms. “We are ready for peace and we are ready for war. But we prefer peace,” Fathali said, adding that future negotiations would depend on whether Tehran’s conditions were accepted.