India may have received a crucial strategic assurance amid the escalating crisis in West Asia. Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, has indicated that Indian ships will receive safe passage through the critical Strait of Hormuz. The narrow maritime passage connects the Persian Gulf to global markets and carries a major share of the world’s oil and LNG shipments. The assurance comes as global shipping companies and governments closely monitor security risks in the region. India’s diplomatic engagement with Tehran has been intense in recent weeks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, while External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has held several calls with Iran’s foreign minister. The message from Tehran could provide relief to India’s energy supply chain amid global uncertainty.