Strait of Hormuz crisis: Jaishankar says talks with Iran 'yielded results', but 'no blanket arrangement'

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday said that direct talks with Iran have proven the most effective way to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, after US President Donald Trump called on impacted countries to send warships to the shipping route.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Jaishankar said negotiations between New Delhi and Tehran had allowed two Indian-flagged gas tankers to safely pass through the strait over the weekend.

“I am at the moment engaged in talking to them and my talking has yielded some results,” FT quoted Jaishankar as saying. “From India’s perspective, it is better that we reason and we coordinate and we get a solution than we don’t. So if that allows other people to engage, I think the world is better off for it.”

Jaishankar also reportedly clarified that India has not reached any "blanket arrangement" with Iran regarding the India-flagged vessels.

Jaishankar’s remarks came after US President Donald Trump called on several countries to send warships to help reopen the crucial shipping route, through which about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil normally flows.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning to Washington from Florida, Trump said countries heavily dependent on Middle East crude should take responsibility for securing the shipping lane.

“I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their own territory,” he said.

In posts on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump said several countries were expected to send warships to the area in coordination with the United States to ensure safe passage through the narrow waterway.

“Many countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending war ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,” Trump wrote.

He warned that despite what he described as the destruction of Iran’s military capabilities, the country could still disrupt shipping with drones, mines or short-range missiles deployed along the waterway.

“Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others that are affected by this artificial constraint will send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat,” Trump said.

In a separate post, Trump said countries that rely on energy shipments through the strait should take a larger role in securing the passage.

“The countries of the world that receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — a lot,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, Iran signalled it may allow safe passage to ships from countries that engage with Tehran.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told CBS that Iran had been approached by several governments seeking assurances for their vessels.

“A group of vessels from different countries have been allowed to pass,” he said, adding that decisions on safe passage ultimately rest with Iran’s military.

However, Araghchi rejected the prospect of talks with Washington to end the conflict, saying Tehran sees no reason to negotiate with the United States.