Indian refiners have secured a vital crude oil shipment from Iran, marking the first such purchase in seven years amid escalating Middle East tensions that threaten key shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz.
The nation’s oil ministry confirmed the development in a statement issued on Saturday, highlighting how ongoing conflicts have forced a rethink on energy sourcing.
As the world’s third-largest oil importer and consumer, guzzling more than five million barrels daily according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data, India had steered clear of Iranian supplies since May 2019. That hiatus stemmed from intense U.S. pressure through sanctions. But recent escalations linked to the U.S.-Israel war have hammered the South Asian giant’s imports, prompting this return to Tehran.
The oil ministry posted on X: “Amid Middle East supply disruptions, Indian refiners have secured their crude oil requirements, including from Iran; and there is no payment hurdle for Iranian crude imports.”
This comes after Washington granted a temporary 30-day waiver last month, allowing limited sales of Iranian oil and refined products to tackle acute global shortages. Disruptions from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have compelled tankers to take lengthy detours around Africa, inflating shipping costs by up to 40 per cent, as reported by Reuters.
Reassuring markets, the ministry affirmed that India maintains robust crude reserves to cover needs for the coming months. It imports from over 40 countries, giving firms ample leeway to tap diverse origins based on market dynamics.
“India imports crude oil from 40-plus countries, with companies having full flexibility to source oil from different sources and geographies based on commercial considerations,” the ministry added.
Complementing the crude deal, India has also received 44,000 metric tonnes of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas aboard a sanctioned tanker. The vessel berthed at the western port of Mangalore on Wednesday and is now discharging its load.
With Brent crude prices lingering around $85 per barrel as of 5 April 2026 per Bloomberg, such moves underscore India’s agile response to volatile geopolitics and supply risks.