India Warns of Concerns as Iran Takes Steps to Regulate Strait of Hormuz Shipping

India and Iran Spar Over Maritime Security in Strait of Hormuz Amid West Asia Crisis

India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, has emphasized the need for a combination of short-term and long-term measures to tackle the ongoing energy and fertiliser crisis in West Asia. Harish participated in the Special Meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNECOSOC) on safeguarding energy and supply flows. He stressed that immediate and structural measures, along with international cooperation, are essential to effectively respond to the crisis.

Harish also highlighted India's concerns over disruptions to maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. In a recent post on 'X', he shared India's approach to the crisis and reiterated that targeting commercial shipping, endangering civilian crew, and impeding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz are unacceptable. International law in this regard must be fully respected.

Iran has announced a "professional mechanism" to regulate maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz through a designated route, which will be unveiled soon. Iranian Parliament's NSC chief Ebrahim Azizi stated that the proposed mechanism has been developed within the framework of Iran's national sovereignty and to ensure the security of international trade. Only commercial vessels and parties cooperating with Iran will be permitted to benefit from the mechanism.

Read also: Treasury Yields Experience Largest Increase in Two Weeks Following Release of Labor Market Data

US President Donald Trump has warned of a "very bad time" if a peace deal to end the West Asia crisis is not reached. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has asserted that the United States remains the primary barrier to peace in West Asia. Araghchi claimed that after more than a month of failed military objectives, the US attempted to pivot toward dialogue, a move met with deep-seated scepticism in Tehran.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi following a meeting of the BRICS Foreign Ministers, Araghchi laid bare the trust deficit defining the current geopolitical standoff. He stated that the US has no reason not to trust Iran, while Iran has every reason not to trust the Americans. This lack of trust is seen as a major obstacle in the way of any diplomatic effort.