India’s Modi, Trump Discuss Strait of Hormuz in Call
(Bloomberg) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he spoke with US President Donald Trump to discuss the Iran war and situation in the Strait of Hormuz, as a US blockade of the waterway risks exacerbating a global energy crisis.
Modi said the two “discussed the situation in West Asia and stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure,” in a social media post on Tuesday.
The White House confirmed the call without providing further details.
The Middle East war has largely cut off flows of crude oil and liquefied natural gas through the critical chokepoint, driving up prices across the globe — a situation that has been particularly problematic for India, a major importer of fuels from the region.
A ceasefire that started April 7 hasn’t caused a surge in energy traffic out of the strait, following failed talks between the US and Iran last weekend. Trump is pressing ahead with a US naval blockade of the strait to cut off Iranian exports in a bid to force Tehran toward a deal.
India’s situation is emblematic of how the brinkmanship between the US and Iran is impacting other countries, with inflation there edging up in March as higher crude prices and decreased gas supplies squeezed key industries.
Earlier: India’s Inflation Picks Up as Iran War Lifts Energy Costs
To ease the crunch, Indian refiners have been buying up Russian crude, seizing on a now-lapsed US sanctions waiver authorizing the purchases. India also is looking to take in Iranian crude as another option to address the supply crunch following a US Treasury waiver allowing temporary access to seaborne oil from that country. Two sanctioned supertankers with Iranian crude have dropped anchor off Indian ports.
Modi on Tuesday said the two leaders also “reviewed the substantial progress achieved in our bilateral cooperation in various sectors,” adding that they are “committed to further strengthening our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership in all areas.”
Ties Improve
The call also comes at a time when Washington and New Delhi are working to reset ties strained by US tariff policies. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit India in May. He met India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Washington earlier this month, where the two discussed bilateral relations.
This would be Rubio’s first visit to India since assuming office. Other senior US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have visited India over the past year. The developments also come as ties between Trump and Pakistan’s leadership deepen, with Islamabad playing a key role in mediating peace talks between the US and Iran.
“The call shows that US and India relations are in a comfortable space despite speculation to the contrary,” said Harsh Pant, a professor of International Relations at King’s College London. “The US is reaching out to India even as it works closely with Pakistan for peace talks with Iran.”
(Adds comment from analyst and details of Rubio visit.)
©2026 Bloomberg L.P.
