The government has, for the first time, acknowledged that Indian refiners have sourced some crude oil from Iran amid ongoing supply disruptions in West Asia and confirmed the arrival of an Iranian LPG cargo at Mangalore.
Officials in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said India, which imports crude from more than 40 countries, allows refiners the flexibility to buy oil based on commercial considerations and market conditions. They said refiners have met their crude requirements amid Middle East volatility, including purchases from Iran, and denied rumours of payment obstacles for Iranian imports.
On liquefied petroleum gas, the ministry confirmed that the vessel Sea Bird, carrying about 44,000 metric tonnes of Iranian LPG, berthed at New Mangalore Port on April 2 and is discharging cargo. The government said overall crude supplies remain fully secured for the coming months despite regional instability.
The admission is the first formal indication that Iranian crude may be returning to India’s energy mix after nearly seven years since imports were halted in 2019 following U.S. sanctions. At that time, Indian refiners diversified toward Russia and Gulf suppliers. Officials described the current activity as a calibrated, commercially driven response to shifting supply dynamics rather than a political decision, signaling a cautious re-engagement with Tehran as supply chains are tested.
