‘We expect unhindered freedom of navigation in Strait of Hormuz’: India welcomes US-Iran ceasefire

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States and expressed hope that the agreement will pave the way for lasting peace in West Asia while stressing the need for uninterrupted passage through the Strait of Hormuz.“We welcome the ceasefire agreement reached and hope it will bring lasting peace to West Asia. As we have advocated earlier, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy are critical for an early end to the ongoing conflict,” the MEA said in a statement.The statement added: “The conflict has caused immense human suffering and disrupted global energy supply and trade networks. We expect unimpeded freedom of navigation and the flow of global commerce in the Strait of Hormuz.”The statement came two weeks after Iran, the United States and Israel announced a ceasefire, with Tehran saying it would start talks with Washington in Islamabad on Friday.President of the United States Donald Trump It initially said Iran had presented a “feasible” 10-point plan, but later dismissed it as fraudulent without elaborating. Hours before announcing the ceasefire, Trump issued a stern warning, saying “an entire civilization will die tonight and never be resurrected” if Iran does not agree to terms that include reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuThe White House office expressed support for Trump’s decision to suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks. However, it clarified that the suspension would not extend to Israel’s ongoing conflict with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which has killed more than 1,500 people.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be allowed under Iranian military management, but it was unclear whether Tehran would fully relax its control of the key waterway.The plan could allow Iran and Oman to impose fees on ships passing through the strait, according to a regional official familiar with the negotiations. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Iran could use the funds for post-war reconstruction.Despite the ceasefire, major differences between Iran and the United States remain unresolved, including issues related to Tehran’s nuclear program, ballistic missile capabilities and its regional proxy network, which both Washington and Israel see as reasons for launching military action.Iran also set broader conditions for an end to the conflict, including the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from the region, the lifting of sanctions and the release of its frozen assets.