India news: Second LPG tanker set to reach India — reports
What happened
On March 17, 2026, the merchant vessel Nanda Devi, carrying liquified petroleum gas, was scheduled to arrive at Deendayal Port (Kandla Port) in Gujarat, India. The ship had crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, March 15, alongside the tanker Shivalik, both escorted by the Indian Navy under 'Operation Sankalp.' A third tanker, Jag Laadki, was also scheduled to reach a different Gujarat port on March 17.
The crossings followed diplomatic negotiations between India and Iran. On March 2, Iran had declared the strait closed and threatened to attack ships attempting passage. Iran subsequently stated the strait was open to all nations except the US and its allies. India, the world's second-largest LPG importer, had engaged with Tehran to secure safe passage for Indian-flagged vessels.
The context involves a US-Israel conflict with Iran that began February 28, 2026, which caused transit through the strait to drop by up to 90% in subsequent days. India's foreign ministry reported 22 additional Indian vessels were in the conflict-affected region, with the government assuring citizens all vessels were safe. Indian Foreign Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar stated there was no 'blanket agreement' with Iran regarding Indian ship passage.
Who's perspective
This article is written from a New Delhi-based correspondent's desk, covering the story primarily through the lens of Indian national interests — energy security, citizen safety, and diplomatic maneuvering. That institutional position means the article centers Indian government statements and Indian shipping outcomes, rather than offering a broader regional or conflict-level view.
Taken for granted
The article treats India's diplomatic engagement with Iran as a straightforward success story, taking for granted that securing passage for Indian ships is the primary lens through which this conflict matters. It leaves largely unexamined the broader question of what India's selective neutrality — negotiating with Iran while the US and Israel are at war with it — means geopolitically.
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