Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said Tuesday that he held a “useful exchange of views” with U.S. president Donald Trump on the ongoing Middle East conflict, including the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.
In a post on social media, Modi stressed that India supports “de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest,” as tensions continue following Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran last month.
The conflict has led to a near standstill in maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint that typically carries around one-fifth of the world’s seaborne crude oil.
“Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world,” Modi said. U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor also confirmed that the leaders discussed the need to maintain access through the strategic waterway.
The disruption poses particular risks for India, the world’s second-largest importer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), much of which comes from the Middle East via Hormuz. Modi has urged authorities to prevent panic buying and curb black market activity, while emphasizing that India’s energy supplies remain stable.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday Islamabad was prepared to host negotiations to stop the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, after speculations it could act as a mediator.
“Pakistan welcomes and fully supports ongoing efforts to pursue dialogue to end the WAR in Middle East, in the interest of peace and stability in (the) region and beyond,” he wrote on X.
