‘Ties Between India, Iran Very Strong’: Tehran’s Envoy After Tanker Attacked Near Hormuz

Iran Supreme Leader’s representative in India said he was unaware of attacks on Indian tankers near Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the India-Iran ties are very strong

The Strait of Hormuz, a key energy corridor (AFP photo)

Following the attack on two Indian-flagged tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, the representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in India said he was oblivious to any such incident, affirming that the relationship between New Delhi and Tehran is “very strong”.

The envoy, Dr Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, stated the Iranian administration hopes that “it will be okay” and that the issue will be resolved.

“The relationship between Iran and India is very strong and I don’t know anything about this event which you mentioned and we hope that it will be okay and it will be solved”, Ilahi said, as quoted by news agency ANI. 

Pressing for the end of the conflict in West Asia, Ilahi said Iran wants peace, adding it doesn’t want the war to continue.

“…We don’t want this war. We want peace, and we hope that the other side will also follow peace so that we can have a peaceful area”, he said.

The Iranian envoy highlighted the Strait of Hormuz — a key maritime chokepoint — was open before war and that it was closed due to security reasons in the wake of the war in West Asia.

“The Strait of Hormuz was open, and due to the imposed war against Iran, it was closed, because of the security issues, and we hope that very soon it will be open…Yes, it was open for some time, but as there are some problems and crises around Iran, they wanted to be sure that the problems would be solved and it would be open very soon,” said Ilahi.

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Attack On Indian-Flagged Tankers

Two Indian-flagged tankers — Jag Arnav and Sanmar Herald — came under direct attack near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, hours after Iran announced the closure of the waterway over the row with the United States amid its blockade of the Iranian ports.

Following the incident, India lodged a formal protest and summoned the Iranian ambassador.

“The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi was called in by the Ministry of External Affairs for a meeting with Foreign Secretary this evening. During the meeting, Foreign Secretary conveyed India’s deep concern at the shooting incident earlier today involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz”, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

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