Iran-U.S. MoU has had a positive impact on energy, fertiliser flow to India: MEA

📌 Summary:

• A 14-point Memorandum of Understanding signed between Iran and the United States on June 17 has positively impacted the flow of energy and fertilizers to India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on June 23, 2026
• MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said there has been two-way movement of India-specific vessels through the Strait of Hormuz at least since June 17
• Officials stressed that a permanent pause in hostilities is essential to fully normalise maritime traffic through the strait
• The Strait of Hormuz faced an Iran- and U.S.-imposed chokehold for nearly three and a half months during the West Asia crisis, disrupting energy and fertilizer shipments to India

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 IR — West Asia stability and India's energy/fertilizer security; chokepoint geopolitics of the Strait of Hormuz

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman/Arabian Sea; a key chokepoint for global oil and LNG trade
• The Iran–U.S. MoU was signed on June 17, 2026 and has 14 points
• India is heavily dependent on West Asia for crude oil and fertilizer (incl. inputs) imports

🔑 Key Term: Strait of Hormuz — a narrow strategic waterway through which a large share of the world's seaborne crude oil passes; any blockade sharply affects energy-importing economies like India