India's first purchase of Iranian oil in seven years has already secured crude oil demand for the coming months.

Gate News message, April 4, India’s Ministry of Petroleum said on Saturday that, as Middle East conflict has disrupted supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, Indian refineries have purchased Iranian crude oil. As the world’s third-largest oil importer and consumer, India has not received any crude oil cargoes from Tehran since May 2019; it had previously stopped buying Iranian crude oil under pressure from the United States, but supply disruptions caused by the war between the U.S. and Israel have dealt a severe blow to India. Last month, the U.S. temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil and petroleum products to ease supply shortages. In a post on the social platform X, India’s Ministry of Petroleum said: “Against the backdrop of disrupted Middle East supplies, Indian refineries have secured their crude oil requirements, including supply from Iran; and there are no payment obstacles to importing Iranian crude oil.” The ministry added that India has secured all its crude oil needs for the coming months: “India imports crude oil from more than 40 countries, and companies can flexibly purchase crude oil from different sources and regions based on commercial considerations.” India also bought 44,000 tons of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas, with the cargo transported by a sanctioned vessel. The ministry said the ship docked at the western port of Mangalore on Wednesday and is currently unloading fuel.