Trump's Hormuz Blockade is Bad News for India; Major Political Fight Ahead as Modi Presses for Delimitation, Women's Reservation Package
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April 13, 2026
Siddharth Varadarajan
The United States says it has begun enforcing its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a move essentially aimed at ensuring Iran is unable to export oil or import anything through the narrow waterway which the Iranians have closed for others’ traffic for over a month now. The US blockade, announced by President Donald Trump in the aftermath of the failed ceasefire talks between Iran and the US in Islamabad, will likely set the stage for renewed hostilities between the two countries.
The US blockade is bad news for India, which had managed to reach an understanding with Iran for the easy passage of Indian tankers though the Strait.
For the first time in seven years, Iranian crude has reached India, with a National Iranian Tanker Company VLCC, FELICITY (9183934), delivering about two million barrels after a sanctions waiver from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control. The cargo is understood to be linked to Reliance Industries, after the Modi government permitted Iranian oil tankers to berth for the company, whose refinery operates out of Sikka, with additional shipments expected in the coming days. Separately, Indian Oil Corporation is also reported to have purchased a cargo of Iranian oil under the same waiver, according to Bloomberg, though the vessel involved has not been identified. The exact buyers of the shipments remain unclear. While Indian Oil typically receives crude at Paradip, Sikka is used by Reliance as well as Bharat Petroleum Corporation. Meanwhile, the state refiners and Reliance did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It is also not clear what will happen to planned shipments now that the US says it is enforcing a blockade.
Not surprisingly, Indian markets are reacting to these developments nervously. Reuters reports a further decline in Indian shares and fresh pressure on the rupee.
India’s financial fragility was on full display on Monday. The rupee logged its steepest fall in two weeks, sliding 0.7% to close at 93.3750 against the dollar, as oil prices surged past $100 a barrel and dollar inflows abruptly dried up amid banks unwinding arbitrage positions. The pressure is not limited to
