Iran Blocks Strait of Hormuz, Threatening Global Oil Supplies and Indian Energy Security

New Delhi: The Middle East war has now moved from the battlefield to the lifeline of the sea. Iran has locked down the world's busiest oil route, the Strait of Hormuz, to teach the US and Israel a lesson. The situation is critical for India because 40 per cent of our oil imports and more than 50 per cent of our gas supplies depend on this narrow route. However, the Indian government has maintained a strategic calm rather than panic. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has held high-level meetings with officials, assuring them that the country currently has a 25-day supply reserve that is capable of meeting any immediate crisis. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz means that oil ships from countries like Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq can no longer access the Arabian Sea. Qatar accounts for 80 per cent of the countries from which India buys the most LNG, which is entirely dependent on this waterway. This disruption threatens to inflate oil prices in the international market.