On Saturday, April 4, 2026, India marked a significant milestone in its energy dealings by making its first purchase of Iranian oil in over seven years. This comes after a period of strained relations due to U.S. sanctions that pressured India to halt its imports of Iranian crude back in May 2019. However, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly the U.S.-Israel war, has severely disrupted global oil supplies, pushing India to seek alternative sources of crude oil. The supply chain disruptions, notably through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, have hit India hard, prompting Indian refiners to secure oil from Iran once again.

The Indian oil ministry confirmed the successful purchase, stating that Indian refiners have now been able to meet their crude oil needs, including sourcing oil from Iran. The ministry further emphasized that there have been no payment issues in relation to the Iranian crude imports. This shift occurred after the United States temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil and refined products to ease the global supply shortage. The ministry also assured that India had secured its full oil requirements for the upcoming months.

India, which imports crude oil from over 40 countries, has ample flexibility to source oil based on commercial considerations. The recent deal with Iran is just one of the ways India is ensuring its energy security amidst the ongoing global supply challenges. Additionally, India has also imported 44,000 metric tons of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which arrived on a sanctioned vessel. This vessel docked at the western port of Mangalore on Wednesday, April 2, 2026, where the fuel is now being unloaded.