Amid rising tensions in the Persian Gulf and concerns over maritime security, Iran's Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali signalled that India could receive safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.
Speaking to reporters, the envoy suggested that developments ensuring India's access through the strategic waterway could emerge soon.
"Yes, because India is our friend. You will see it within two or three hours," Fathali said when asked whether India would receive safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The remarks come at a time when shipping movements through the narrow corridor linking the Persian Gulf to global markets are being closely watched due to the ongoing conflict in the region.
When asked directly whether India would be able to transit safely through the Strait of Hormuz, the ambassador indicated that positive developments were expected.
"Yes, yes, you can see that in the future. I think that after two or three hours," he said.
Fathali described India as an important partner for Iran and pointed to shared interests between the two countries in the region.
"We believe that Iran and India share common interests in the region," he said.
The ambassador also spoke about the broader relationship between New Delhi and Tehran, describing it as one built on friendship and cooperation.
"We believe that Iran and India are friends. We have common interests, we have common faith," he said.
Fathali also referred to India's role in supporting Iran during difficult periods.
"As ambassador in India, I say that the government of India in this situation, after the war, helped us in different fields," he said.
Strait of Hormuz remains a key global energy corridor
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important maritime routes, through which a significant portion of global oil and gas shipments pass.
Disruption in the passage is already having implications for energy markets and international trade, including for India, which imports a large share of its crude oil through the region.
Fathali's remarks suggesting safe passage for India come as governments and shipping companies closely monitor developments around the Strait amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed in a call with G7 leaders that Iran is "about to surrender," according to a report by Axios citing three people familiar with the virtual call.
However, about 24 hours later, Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued his first public statement since taking office, vowing that the country would continue fighting.
The Iranian leadership has shown no signs of imminent surrender or collapse and, on Day 14 of the war on Friday, appeared to be seeking greater leverage by threatening to choke off the Strait of Hormuz.
Khamenei delivered a series of warnings as the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran intensified. In a statement read out by a news anchor on Iranian state television, he said vengeance would remain a priority "until fully achieved."
In the same call, Trump claimed that there were no officials left alive in Tehran to decide whether to continue the fight, according to the Axios report.
"Nobody knows who the leader is, so there is no one who can announce surrender," Trump said, according to two officials cited by the US-based news outlet who were briefed on the call.
The report added that the US President also mocked UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his initial decision not to allow the United States to use British military bases for strikes on Iran.
According to the Axios report, Trump told Starmer in front of other G7 leaders that his help was no longer needed.
"You should have proposed it before the war — now it is too late," he added.
Notably, Starmer had earlier offered access to British bases for defensive strikes once Iran began targeting other Gulf countries in retaliation.
The Axios report follows an earlier report by CNN which said the administration of President Trump may have underestimated the possibility of Iran attempting to shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for US military strikes.
According to CNN, sources said that while planning the ongoing military operation, officials at the United States Department of Defense and the United States National Security Council did not fully anticipate that Iran would move to close the waterway, despite the US military having long maintained contingency plans for such a scenario.
