NEW DELHI – With crude oil supply through the key Strait of Hormuz route “effectively choked” due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and a global energy crisis looming, India on Thursday confirmed receiving requests from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives for the supply of diesel.
Addressing a weekly press conference in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi is reviewing the diesel supply request from Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries.
Jaiswal further stated that India has been a major exporter of refined petroleum products to its neighbours. New Delhi has been supplying diesel to Bangladesh since 2017. “The government is examining these requests while considering India’s own refining capacity, domestic requirements, and fuel availability,” he said.
New Delhi assisting Indians in Iran to exit via Azerbaijan and Armenia: MEA
The MEA spokesperson said that India is assisting its nationals in Iran to exit the country in view of US-Israeli attacks.
“We are also assisting Indian nationals who wish to travel to Azerbaijan and Armenia and from there to take commercial flights to return home. We are assisting them with visas. We are also assisting them with land border crossings…,” Jaiswal said.
He further added, “We’ve had about 9,000 Indian nationals who were there or who are there in Iran. These 9,000 Indian nationals comprise students, seafarers, business people, professionals, and some pilgrims…Several Indian nationals, mostly students, left the country and reached home. We have shifted several Indian nationals, including students and pilgrims, who were based in Tehran to other safer locations and cities in the country.”
“We’ve had several Indian nationals who have approached us, and we have helped them to cross over into Azerbaijan and Armenia and from there to take commercial flights back home. I would take this opportunity to advise all Indian nationals who desire to leave Iran via land borders. They should adhere to the advisory that our embassy has issued.”
ANN/The Statesman
