Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said that news reports and social media posts of an Iranian crude cargo being diverted from Vadinar, India to China due to payment issues is factually incorrect. In a social media post, Mr Puri said that amid West Asia supply disruptions, Indian refiners have secured their crude oil requirements, including from Iran and there is no payment hurdle for Iranian crude imports as per some rumours being circulated.

The Minister noted that Bills of Lading often indicate tentative destinations, and cargoes can change course mid-voyage due to operational and commercial factors. Mr Puri informed that India imports crude oil from more than 40 countries, with companies having full flexibility to source oil from different sources and geographies based on commercial considerations. The Minister noted that some claims on LPG are also incorrect. He said that the LPG vessel Sea Bird, carrying around 44 Thousand Metric Tonnes of Iranian LPG berthed at Mangalore, India, on 2nd of this month is currently discharging.