India has imported crude oil from Iran for the first time since 2019 after the United States issued a waiver allowing purchases, New Delhi’s petroleum ministry said. The move comes as global energy supplies have been severely disrupted by the war in the Middle East, prompting Indian refiners to secure crude from diverse sources to manage fuel shortages and price pressures.
The ministry said Indian refiners have “secured their crude oil requirements, including from Iran,” and that there is “no payment hurdle for Iranian crude imports.” It noted that India imports oil from more than 40 countries and that companies retain commercial flexibility to source supplies across geographies. The statement also dismissed reports that a tanker carrying Iranian crude rerouted mid-voyage from India to China because of payment concerns as “factually incorrect,” without specifying why the vessel diverted.
The procurement reflects India’s urgent need to stabilise domestic fuel supplies after disruptions linked to the Iran conflict. The government has issued emergency directives to manage an impending fuel crisis and engaged with Tehran to negotiate the safe passage of India‑flagged ships through risky waters. Live tracking showed several India‑bound tankers have recently crossed the Strait of Hormuz, including an LPG tanker scheduled to dock in Mumbai, underscoring efforts to maintain flows of petroleum products and cooking fuel.
Context and wider impact
– India is the world’s third‑largest oil importer and consumer, and the second‑largest importer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is widely used for household cooking. Disruptions in the Middle East have pushed authorities to diversify supply lines rapidly to avoid shortages and price spikes.
– Officials face the dual task of ensuring shipments reach Indian ports safely while managing international sanctions regimes and financial channels that can complicate payments for certain crude sources.
– The government’s public reassurance aims to calm markets and consumers after reports of diversions and shipping uncertainties.
Related developments in India
– Families of victims of the June 12, 2025 Air India AI171 crash have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting release — or private sharing with families — of cockpit voice recorder and black box data to clarify the cause of the crash that killed 260 people.
– In Kerala, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s convoy was allegedly blocked and his security personnel attacked while he was travelling to a campaign event; police have registered cases and detained at least one suspect.
– A vehicle plunged into an unprotected roadside well in Maharashtra’s Nashik district, killing nine relatives, including six children. Rescue teams retrieved the submerged car after more than two hours.
– Parts of north India, including New Delhi, felt tremors after a 5.9‑magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan, where at least eight people were reported killed.
– Environmental and human‑interest items include Indian scientists growing microscopic algae in large tanks as “liquid trees” that can help clean city air, and a profile of rewilding work by a former fashion insider turned ecological designer.
What’s next
Indian refiners and the government will continue to monitor supply routes and shipping movements closely, negotiating safe transit and managing procurement across multiple suppliers to shield the domestic market from further shocks. The government’s statements aim to reassure consumers and traders that crude requirements will be met despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.