Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke over phone on Tuesday and discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, US envoy to India Sergio Gor said in a post on X.
Minutes later, Prime Minister Modi also said he had a "useful exchange" with the US President. In a post on X, PM said India supports de-escalation and early restoration of peace, stressing that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, secure and accessible is vital for global stability.
"Ensuring that Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for whole world. We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability," Modi said.
Trump said on Monday that he has extended the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the strategically located shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and that he will hold off strikes against Iranian energy sites for five days.
The US President, without sharing any details, also said that there have been "productive conversations" between the US and Iran for "complete and total resolution" to the conflict in West Asia.
The conflict has disrupted sectors from air travel to shipping and gas supplies, including by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which serves as a conduit for 40 per cent of India's crude oil imports. Modi told parliament on Monday that the crisis had triggered unprecedented challenges for India and added that the fundamentals of the Indian economy were strong and the country had adequate availability of petroleum, fertilisers and coal to weather trade and energy disruptions.