#New Delhi
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri represented India on Thursday at a UK-hosted summit of nearly 35 plus nations that focused on ensuring safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz amid Iran's partial blockade of the strategic waterway which has severely disrupted global oil and gas supplies.
Misri, joining the deliberations through virtual mode, articulated New Delhi's stance on safety of international shipping lanes in the region.
"As far as India is concerned, you very well know that we stand for free and open commercial shipping, and for maritime security in keeping with international law," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing. "We continue to call for ensuring safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of priority," he said.
Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). West Asia has been a major source of India's energy procurement.
Jaiswal said the UK invited several countries, including India, for talks on the Strait of Hormuz and Misri attended it.
"We are in touch with Iran and other countries to see how best we can get unimpeded and safe transit for our ships which are carrying products including LPG and LNG," he said. The US was not among the countries attending Thursday's meeting, which came after President Donald Trump made clear that he thinks securing the waterway, closed as a consequence of the US-Israeli war on Iran, is not America's job. PTI