Recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz have raised Indian concerns regarding the safety of its maritime trade and the broader principle of freedom of navigation. Reports indicate that two Indian-flagged vessels came under fire from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps gunboats on April 18, 2026, near Larak Island while attempting to transit the Strait. They were forced to turn back, even though Tehran had issued prior assurances about the safety of commercial shipping.
Just a day earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had announced that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open for navigation. He stated that “in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels … is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire.” The incident involving Indian vessels raises questions about the credibility and coherence of Iran’s diplomatic position.
The incident involving Indian vessels raises questions about the credibility and coherence of Iran’s diplomatic position.
The incident did not go down well in New Delhi. India summoned the Iranian ambassador to the Ministry of External Affairs, where the Foreign Secretary conveyed his “serious concerns and displeasure.” The Indian side sought clarity about how civilian shipping came under fire and emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of merchant vessels and mariners.
In its official statement, New Delhi underlined that India attaches importance to secure maritime passage, especially in international waterways. New Delhi reiterated that such incidents are unacceptable and urged Tehran to resume efforts to ensure safe passage for India-bound vessels through the Strait.
Beyond the immediate diplomatic exchange, the episode highlights a deeper issue—possible lack of coordination within the Iranian system. While Araghchi declared the Strait “completely open,” subsequent indications that passage required approval from the Revolutionary Guard, and reports of the Strait being placed under stricter control, contradicted these claims. Further, Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, a representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in India, denied knowledge of the incident. Such conflicting signals indicate that Iran’s diplomatic and military institutions may not be operating in alignment.
For India, the stakes are significant. The Strait of Hormuz is an artery for global energy flows and a crucial route for India’s trade. India’s Indo-Pacific vision is anchored in the principle of a free, open, and rules-based maritime order, where freedom of navigation is non-negotiable.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently emphasized safeguarding maritime commons and ensuring that international waters remain accessible. While speaking with the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on March 12, 2026, Modi underscored this point, emphasizing freedom of navigation and secure shipping lanes, and condemning attacks on infrastructure affecting global supply chains. If strategic chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz become subject to geopolitical conditionalities, it would undermine not only India’s maritime strategy but also the broader global trading system.
India, as a maritime power, has consistently upheld the principles of a rules-based international order.
The implications extend beyond this region. If one country begins to exercise control over a key maritime passage, it risks setting a precedent. Other states located along critical chokepoints may follow suit, using their geographic advantage as leverage. This could erode the idea of freedom of navigation as a global public good. For example, tensions could similarly escalate in other sensitive waterways such as the Taiwan Strait, where geopolitical rivalries are already intense.
Nor is the Persian Gulf the exclusive domain of any single country. Other regional actors—United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Iraq—possess legitimate maritime interests and rights. A unilateral approach to controlling access to shared waterways disregards this collective stake and risks destabilizing the region.
India, as a maritime power, has consistently upheld the principles of a rules-based international order. It has opposed any attempts to weaponize strategic geography or restrict access to international waters. Allowing chokepoints to become instruments of coercion—whether through threats, restrictions, or economic impositions—would have far-reaching consequences for global trade, energy security, and international stability. For India and the wider international community, safeguarding freedom of navigation is not merely a strategic preference; it is an essential pillar of global order that must be preserved.
