Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, has denied any tolls imposed on Indian oil and gas tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, countering claims made by US President Trump regarding alleged extortion.
Photo : AP
Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, has clarified that Tehran has not imposed any toll on Indian oil and gas tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz since the charges were introduced after the US-Israeli strikes in late February. The statement comes amid repeated criticism from US President Donald Trump, who has accused Iran of “extortion” for allegedly charging vessels a fee to navigate the strategic waterway. Trump has even threatened to block ships that pay such tolls.“
You can ask the Indian government if we have charged anything up to now,” Ambassador Fathali told reporters during a briefing at the Iranian embassy in New Delhi. He added that despite the current tensions, Iran and India continue to enjoy good relations and “share common interests and a common fate.”
India’s Heavy Dependence on the Strait
India imports up to 90% of its oil and gas from West Asia, with roughly half of its crude oil and LPG supplies passing through the narrow Strait of Hormuz. The route remains critical for India’s energy security.
After a temporary ceasefire was announced last week, India’s Ministry of External Affairs firmly denied any discussion or payment of tolls with Iran.“There has been absolutely no discussion on the issue of toll between India and Iran,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday.
He reiterated India’s position that it continues to call for “free and safe navigation” through the strait.The government has maintained that India has not paid any toll, even as reports of Iran charging fees to some vessels surfaced before the truce. New Delhi says it has been allowed passage as a “friendly” country.
At least eight India-flagged LPG tankers have successfully transited the route in recent days, though the government has been rationing fuel use and grey market rates have spiked sharply — in some cases up to four times the normal price.
