Iran Denies Ransom Charges in Strait of Hormuz
Amid President Donald Trump’s warning to stop ships that have paid Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian officials on Monday rejected claims of imposing “tolls” on Indian vessels.
Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Fatali suggested that perhaps the Indian government should clarify if they’ve ever asked for such payments. He made these comments during a press conference at the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi.
“We still maintain good relations, especially in these challenging times. Iran and India share common interests and a shared destiny,” Fatali remarked.
He emphasized that Iran is in “close communication” with India to ensure the safety of Indian ships, asserting that it hasn’t requested any ransoms for safe passage.
“As for Indian ships, our ties with the Indian government are solid, and we want to ensure they are prepared. Our foreign minister has indicated that India is one of our five friendly nations,” he noted.
These “five countries,” as Foreign Minister Abbas Aragushi referred to, include India, China, Russia, Iraq, and Pakistan. While these nations may experience free navigation in the Strait, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has been known to threaten other countries.
Fatali expressed gratitude to the Indian people, saying they’ve shown themselves to be dependable partners during tough times. He also acknowledged the Indian government for its support in this regard.
Fatali mentioned that Iran is developing some kind of “mechanism” to ensure safe passage for its allies through the Strait. However, he admitted the line between this mechanism and piracy may be hard to discern.
“Iran adheres to international law and the freedom of navigation. We intend to publicize this mechanism soon,” he stated.
India had officially halted its crude oil purchases from Iran in 2019 due to U.S. sanctions, but recently, following a special exemption from the U.S. Treasury, India resumed its imports from Iran with two large tankers.
These tankers—identified as Felicity and the Curacao-flagged Jaya—were reportedly able to dock without violating the recently imposed U.S. blockade on Iranian ports.
India’s Reliance Industries, which operates the world’s largest oil refinery, received special “one-time exemptions” for four ships affected by U.S. sanctions. These exemptions seemingly facilitated their entry into Indian ports.
On Sunday, Trump accused Iran of “extortion,” threatening to take action against foreign nations providing funds to Iran for passage through the Strait. He indicated that his administration is working towards a comprehensive reopening of the routes for all traffic.
Until that point, Trump warned of potential measures against any countries aiding Iran financially, asserting that he has directed the Navy to intercept any vessels in international waters that might be damaging to U.S. interests.
