Iran has allowed two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers to sail through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Officials confirmed the decision on Friday. The move may help reduce fears of a cooking gas shortage in India.

“The vessels have been permitted to move through the Strait of Hormuz,” said a person familiar with the matter. The person declined to be identified and did not share further details.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes. It links the Persian Gulf with global sea lanes. Nearly half of India’s oil imports pass through this narrow waterway.

India and Iran hold high-level talks

The decision came shortly after phone calls between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. This was their first conversation since the conflict between Iran and the United States began.

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also spoke with Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. After the talks, Modi said both sides discussed key concerns related to Indian citizens and trade.

He said the “safety and security of Indian citizens” and the “need for uninterrupted flow of goods and energy” remain India’s top priorities.

Iran signals support for Indian vessels

Earlier on Friday, Iran’s ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali indicated that Indian ships would receive safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. “We believe that Iran and India are friends. We have common interests, we have a common fate,” Fathali told reporters when asked about the movement of Indian vessels.

He also noted that India supported Iran after the conflict started. “The Government of India, in this situation after the war, helped us in different fields,” he said. Fathali added that positive developments regarding transit through the waterway could happen within “two or three hours”.

More Indian ships await clearance

Sources said Indian authorities remain in contact with Iranian officials about other ships waiting near the strait. Around two dozen Indian-flagged vessels currently remain west of the Strait of Hormuz. They are waiting for safe passage.

This route is critical for India’s energy supplies. Any disruption could affect oil and gas deliveries.

Saudi oil tanker heading to India

In a separate development, a crude oil tanker carrying Saudi Arabian oil is expected to reach India on Saturday. Sources said the vessel sailed through the Strait of Hormuz around March 1 before heading toward Indian ports.

The movement of the tanker shows that some energy shipments continue despite tensions in the region.