India Resumes Iranian Oil Imports Amid Middle East Supply Disruptions
Indian refiners have purchased crude oil from Iran for the first time since May 2019, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas confirmed on Saturday, citing supply disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
India, the world’s third-largest oil importer and consumer, had previously avoided Iranian oil due to U.S. sanctions. However, the recent turmoil in the Strait of Hormuz has affected global supply, prompting India to secure alternative sources.
“Amid Middle East supply disruptions, Indian refiners have secured their crude oil requirements, including from Iran; and there is no payment hurdle for Iranian crude imports,” the ministry said in a statement on X.
The move follows the U.S. temporarily lifting sanctions on Iranian oil and refined products last month to ease global supply shortages. The ministry added that India has now secured its crude oil requirements for the coming months.
India imports crude from over 40 countries, giving companies flexibility to source based on commercial considerations. Alongside crude oil, the country has also received 44,000 metric tons of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) on a sanctioned vessel, which docked at the western port of Mangalore on Wednesday and is currently offloading the fuel.
This resumption underscores India’s strategic approach to energy security amid global supply volatility, balancing commercial needs with evolving geopolitical dynamics.
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