Amid escalating tensions in West Asia and Iran’s blockade of commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, India has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to protect its critical energy imports. The approach combines proactive shipping measures, naval support, and high-level diplomacy to ensure uninterrupted supplies of crude oil, LNG, and LPG—resources vital for India’s economy and daily needs like cooking gas.
The Strategic Challenge
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, handling a significant portion of global oil and gas trade. With Iran restricting or selectively permitting passage amid ongoing conflicts, shipping has been severely disrupted. Reports indicate potential risks including naval mines, forced routing, and navigational interference.
India, which relies heavily on Persian Gulf sources for its energy needs, initially had around 20–24 India-bound or Indian-flagged vessels affected in the region, including high-priority ships carrying LPG, LNG, and crude oil. Approximately 20 vessels with Indian crew remained in a vulnerable position as of late March 2026, raising concerns over potential fuel and cooking gas shortages at home.
Empty Tankers: A Proactive Replenishment Strategy
To mitigate immediate supply risks, the Indian government has dispatched empty tankers from Indian ports to Persian Gulf loading terminals. Coordinated by the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and other agencies, these vessels load fresh cargoes of oil and gas and return under safer conditions. This move helps replenish strategic reserves quickly and reduces dependence on the stranded loaded ships while testing viable transit routes.
Naval Protection: Operation Urja Suraksha
The Indian Navy has launched Operation Urja Suraksha (Energy Security) to safeguard India-bound energy shipments. More than five frontline warships, including Visakhapatnam-class destroyers and frigates, have been deployed to the Gulf of Oman.
Key features of the operation include:
- Warships provide navigational guidance, safe-route identification (using hydrographic data to avoid hazards), and layered protection once vessels exit the most sensitive parts of the Strait.
- The Navy does not enter the highest-risk zones inside the Strait itself but offers escort and support in the Gulf of Oman and onward to the Arabian Sea.
- All India-bound ships carrying LPG, LNG, and crude oil—around 20–22 vessels in total—have been prioritised for protected transit.
Successful escorts so far include:
- LPG carriers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, carrying nearly 92,000 tonnes of cooking gas, which reached or were nearing Indian ports by March 26–27, 2026.
- LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi.
- Crude oil tanker Jag Laadki.
The operation is executed with “calibrated precision and minimal publicity” to maintain operational effectiveness and avoid escalation.
Diplomacy: Quiet Engagement Yields Results
Parallel diplomatic efforts have played a decisive role. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar engaged directly with Iranian leadership and other regional partners, including Saudi Arabia, emphasising the need for safe passage and uninterrupted energy flows.
These talks have produced tangible outcomes: Iran has permitted select Indian-flagged and India-bound vessels to transit, treating them under the category of “friendly” or non-hostile shipping. India has maintained that no “permission” or fees are required under international norms for navigation through the Strait, while stressing freedom of navigation. This balanced diplomacy—maintaining relations across conflicting parties—has complemented the naval presence and helped de-risk transit for Indian vessels.
Why This Coordinated Approach Matters
India’s strategy demonstrates a pragmatic blend of self-reliance and smart statecraft. By sending empty tankers, the country avoids supply gaps; through naval escorts outside the hottest zones, it protects sailors and cargoes without direct entanglement in regional conflicts; and via targeted diplomacy, it secures permissions and safe corridors.
As of late March 2026, several key LPG and crude shipments have been secured, with efforts continuing for the remaining stranded vessels. The government continues to monitor the situation closely, prioritising both energy security and the safety of Indian seafarers.
In an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape, India’s handling of the Hormuz crisis underscores its growing capability to protect vital national interests through a mix of operational readiness and diplomatic finesse. The situation remains fluid, and developments in West Asia will continue to influence global energy flows.
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