Amid US Blockade, Modi and Trump Stress Need to Keep Hormuz Strait ‘Open and Secure’

New Delhi: For the second time since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US President Donald Trump, stressing the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz “open and secure” amid a US military blockade targeting Iran’s ports.

In a post on X, Modi said he had “received a call from my friend President Donald Trump” and that the two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral ties across sectors.

“We are committed to further strengthening our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership in all areas,” he said, adding that they “also discussed the situation in West Asia and stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure”.

Received a call from my friend President Donald Trump. We reviewed the substantial progress achieved in our bilateral cooperation in various sectors. We are committed to further strengthening our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership in all areas. We also discussed the…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 14, 2026

Trump has not publicly commented on the call. However, US ambassador to India Sergio Gor told reporters that the conversation focused on an “update” from the US side on the evolving situation in West Asia, with the blockade and its implications forming a key part of the discussion.

“The President gave the Prime Minister an update of what’s happening,” Gor said, adding that the two sides discussed “the blockade and the importance of it [the strait] reopening as soon as possible”. He described the crisis as one where “a nation is holding the entire world hostage” by disrupting what he called international waterways.

Asked whether Washington had sought any assistance from India, he said, "I don't want to say we sought help, but it was more of an update".

He also indicated that decisions were pending on key US waivers affecting India’s energy imports, including those related to Russian oil and sanctions on the strategic Chabahar port project, both of which expire this month. “At some point, there will be decisions made on those,” he said, without offering details.

The call comes at a time when the US has moved to block ships entering or exiting Iranian ports after ceasefire talks failed over the weekend. Iran had already sharply curtailed tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, allowing only select vessels to pass, triggering massive disruptions in global shipping.

According to an Associated Press report, the blockade could further strain global supply chains and push up oil prices, with nearly 20% of the world’s traded oil passing through the strait in normal conditions. Experts have warned that enforcing such a blockade would require significant US naval resources and could raise questions under international law, particularly regarding humanitarian shipments.

The economic impact is already being felt. Analysts say the disruption risks affecting the movement of oil, fertilisers and food, with knock-on effects for inflation and global growth. Oil prices have remained elevated, hovering above $100 per barrel after the conflict.

For India, the situation presents a particular challenge. India, which imports over 85% of its crude, has already lost a significant volume of oil that typically transits through the Strait of Hormuz, forcing refiners to seek alternatives.

Mukesh Sahdev, chief oil analyst at energy intelligence firm XAnalysts, told CNBC that India now faces a mounting supply squeeze "with the loss of Iranian barrels, plus not getting the Russian barrels".

India holds roughly 160 million barrels in reserves, representing about 30 days of supply, compared with China's roughly 300 days.

India had recently received its first Iranian oil shipment in seven years just before the blockade was announced, even as it relied heavily on discounted Russian crude.

Against this backdrop, Gor said there were also ongoing discussions on broader bilateral cooperation, with US secretary of state Marco Rubio expected to visit India next month. He indicated that both sides were working towards finalising agreements in sectors such as energy ahead of the visit.

He also said Washington was looking forward to a Quad ministerial meeting in India, describing the country as “vitally important” to the US.

Modi and Trump had last spoken on March 24, more than three weeks after the outbreak of the conflict in West Asia, when both sides had similarly underlined the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz “open, secure and accessible”.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.