NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Lok Sabha on March 23, 2026, that India was using diplomatic channels to secure safe passage for its ships through conflict-affected waters as US-Iran tensions entered a new phase. Speaking in New Delhi, he framed the response as part of a broader push for dialogue over military confrontation.

"From the beginning, we have expressed deep concern over this conflict. Through diplomacy, India is continuously working to ensure safe passage for Indian ships even in this war environment," Modi said.

He addressed the wider conflict in the same speech. "This is not an era of war. This is an era of dialogue and diplomacy," he said.

India profits from smooth energy and trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz and from operations of the Chabahar Port in Iran on the Gulf of Oman, which facilitates connectivity with Central Asia. The course of the US-Iran conflict has direct implications for both routes.

Indian analysts are sharply divided over the direction of New Delhi's foreign policy in response to the conflict. Among those calling for a more assertive Indian role is Sumeer Bhasin, an Indian geopolitical analyst, who has urged the government to take the lead in stabilizing the waterway. "India must announce a Hormuz stabilization initiative – not as mediation, but as a framework-setting exercise," Bhasin said.

Bhasin argued that the current geopolitical environment placed India in a position to shape outcomes rather than simply react to them. "This is India's moment – not as a balancer, but as an architect," he said.