Sunita Somvanshi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that freedom of navigation and commerce, along with the safety and well-being of seafarers, must be protected as regional tensions continue. Modi made the remarks during a meeting with Pezeshkian on September 11, 2026, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, as documented by the Prime Minister's Office of India.
The Strait of Hormuz is a major oil chokepoint between Iran and Oman, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that petroleum-liquid flows through the strait averaged 4.9 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2026, down sharply from before the conflict.
The International Maritime Organization said on September 9 that around 20,000 seafarers, port workers and offshore crews were affected by the situation in the Strait of Hormuz region. The IMO said the safety and wellbeing of seafarers remained its primary concern.
India has also issued security guidance for its maritime sector. The Directorate General of Shipping has issued advisories covering Indian-flagged vessels and Indian seafarers in and around Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and adjacent waters.
The September 11 meeting was the second between Modi and Pezeshkian in less than two weeks. They had previously met on August 31 on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek.
According to India’s Prime Minister’s Office, Modi reiterated India’s position that issues in West Asia should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. He also called for continued efforts toward peace and stability while stressing the protection of navigation, commerce and seafarers. In his BRICS Business Forum speech, Modi linked secure sea lanes, open supply routes and safe seafarers to global trade.
The Indian government’s published account of the September 11 meeting did not announce a new agreement resolving the wider regional conflict. It recorded discussions on bilateral relations, BRICS cooperation and developments in West Asia, alongside India’s position on dialogue, navigation and seafarer safety. Related U.S. naval activity in the area is detailed in this Kharg Island tanker report.
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