India has highlighted to Iran the importance of unhindered transit of energy and goods amid the current situation in West Asia. During the Inter-Ministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian last evening and stressed New Delhi’s priority regarding the safety and well-being of Indian nationals in the region, including in Iran. The spokesperson also reiterated India’s consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
Mr Jaiswal said the Control Room established at the External Affairs Ministry is working at speed, and to date, 900 phone calls and 200 emails have been received. He informed that real-time handholding is being given to people so that the issue at hand can be resolved. The spokesperson said that in the last few days, 170 Indian nationals have crossed through the land border from Iran into Armenia.
Special Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Rajesh Kr Sinha, said there are 24 Indian-flagged vessels to the west of the Strait of Hormuz. He said there are three Indian-flagged vessels to the east of the Strait of Hormuz.
Overall, port operations across India remain stable. A Standard Operating Procedure has been issued for all Major Ports and State Maritime Boards to proactively facilitate shipping lines and exporters through stakeholder coordination and time-bound grievance redressal. A nodal officer as a Single Point of Contact has been appointed by all Major Ports. Government remains fully committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers and protecting India’s maritime interests.
Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Sujata Sharma, said India is self-sufficient in the production of petrol and diesel. She said all refineries are working at 100% capacity and have an adequate inventory of crude. She informed that domestic PNG and CNG for vehicles are being ensured with no cuts. She also said that there are 1.5 crore consumers of PNG, and supply is being ensured for all. All the retail outlet dealers have also been directed to strictly follow guidelines while dispensing fuel, and any violation will invite strict action.
On LPG, the Joint Secretary said this is a matter of concern, but there is no dry-out in any of the 25 thousand distributors. She said 50 lakh cylinders are being delivered every day. Ms Sharma urged people to not to believe in rumours and not to indulge in panic buying. She said action is being taken on black marketing and hoarding. She assured that an uninterrupted supply to domestic houses has been ensured, and hospitals and educational institutions are also being supplied with LPG. She also said that domestic production of LPG has increased by 30% today.
Secretaries of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry and the Consumer Affairs Ministry today held a meeting with Secretaries of Food and Civil Supply departments from all States/UTs. All States and UTs have been assured of the continuous coordination and cooperation with regard to fuel supplies in the country. States and UTs have been advised to take action against black marketing and hoarding.
Joint Secretary, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Senthil Rajan, appealed to the public to book their LPG cylinders only through official websites, IVRS calls, SMS booking, WhatsApp booking, and mobile applications of the oil marketing companies. He urged everyone to remain cautious, as digital scammers are trying to take advantage of this situation by spreading fake and misleading advertisements online. People were advised to be aware of such scams and use only the official platforms of the oil marketing companies for booking their cylinders.
