‘Indian friends in safe hands’: Iran reassures as Hormuz blockade continues amid West Asia war

IRan has sought-after(a) to assure republic of india o'er the refuge of its interests in the Strait of Hormuz, issuing a message on social media as tensions escalated sharply in the Gulf region.In a post on X, the official handle of Iran in India said, “Our Indian friends are in safe hands, no worries.” A similar message was shared by the Iran Embassy in Saudi Arabia, which asserted that “ONLY Iran and Oman will decide the future of the Strait of Hormuz” and added, “You are in safe hands, no worries.”ALSO READ | Trump news LIVE updates: After Trump's speech, Iran warns against US invasion, says not a single person will surviveThe posts aimed at calming concerns in India and elsewhere over potential disruptions to shipping through the critical waterway. They come against the backdrop of recent statements by Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, who said Tehran would ensure safe passage for Indian vessels despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Speaking in New Delhi, Fathali described India as a “trusted partner” and said its ships would not face difficulties in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global transit route through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes.ALSO READ | Strait of Hormuz: Which countries' ships are allowed to pass through Iran's chokehold and which aren't?However, the situation on the ground remained complex. While Iranian officials have maintained that the strait has not been formally closed, they have acknowledged that ongoing hostilities have created operational challenges for commercial shipping. Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, a representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in India, said vessels are currently facing difficulties passing through the route due to prevailing conditions, even though some traffic continues.The United States has pushed back against Iran’s narrative, with senior officials accusing Tehran of actively disrupting maritime movement. At a Pentagon briefing, US war secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington was working to maintain freedom of navigation in the strait and claimed that Iranian actions were the primary factor hindering transit.ALSO READ | ‘Because India is our friend’: Iran envoy updates on ‘safe passage’ in Strait of HormuzRecent reports of attacks on vessels have heightened these concerns. According to Reuters, multiple ships have been struck across Gulf waters since the conflict began, including incidents involving explosive-laden boats targeting fuel tankers.The stakes are particularly high for India, which relies heavily on energy imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz.Despite Iran's repeated reassurances, statements from Iran’s leadership suggested a more assertive stand. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, in his first address after assuming leadership, has called for the continued use of the Strait of Hormuz blockade as strategic leverage.India is among five countries Iran has designated as “friendly nations” whose ships are allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the others being China, Russia, Iraq and Pakistan.