(March 21): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the importance of keeping shipping lanes open and secure in a call with Iran’s President Ahmad Masoud Pezeshkian. Modi also condemned attacks on “critical infrastructure” in the region, which he said threaten regional stability and disrupt global supply chains, according to a post on X on Saturday. The Indian prime minister said he “reiterated the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and ensuring that shipping lanes remain open and secure”. Earlier this month, Modi said he spoke to Pezeshkian as New Delhi looked for ways to secure the safe passage of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. The disruption has triggered a cooking gas crisis across households, hotels and restaurants, while industries that rely on LPG are shutting down operations.

Source: The Edge Markets March 21, 2026 12:43 UTC