NEW DELHI: Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, on Friday indicated that Indian vessels could soon receive safe passage amid tensions affecting maritime routes in the region, stressing the strong ties between the two countries.Responding to a question on whether Iran would allow safe passage to India, Fathali said the development could become visible shortly and reiterated that India remains an important partner for Tehran.“… Yes, because India is our friend. You will see it within two or three hours. We believe that Iran and India share common interests in the region…”The remarks come at a time when concerns have grown over shipping routes and energy supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz following escalating tensions in Middle East.Separately, the Representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in India, Dr Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, also spoke about discussions related to allowing Indian ships to transport energy resources.“Actually, there have been some discussions concerning this, and I am sure that India will benefit from oil, gas, and other resources. But I think the complete solution is that the leaders of the world have to come together. They should go to the United States and convince President Trump that this war is an unjust war against civilians and that it has to stop. They should also put pressure on the Zionist regime to stop this war. We didn’t create this war, we didn’t initiate this war, we didn’t start this war… We are ready to share our blood on the earth, but we are not ready to sell our dignity.”His remarks indicate that Tehran expects international diplomatic efforts to push for a halt to the ongoing conflict in the region.The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints for oil and gas shipments, and any disruption to shipping in the area has raised concerns for major energy-importing countries, including India.
