Jaishankar meets Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Khatibzadeh as tensions escalate

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh, a day after talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi. India urged de-escalation and restraint on all sides for the sake of peace amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. Meanwhile, the United States has offered India a 30-day waiver on Russian oil purchases, aimed at easing pressure on global oil markets amid heightened geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions triggered by the US-Iran war. The move comes as the Strait of Hormuz faces a shipping gridlock, with over 200 ships stuck inside the Persian Gulf, 150 waiting outside the strait, and 38 Indian vessels caught in the region. Government sources stated that India's energy position remains comfortable, with adequate stocks replenished daily and no shortage of LPG or LNG, despite the disruptions.