Key facts
- India withdraws restrictions on commercial LPG supply
- Oil flows through Strait of Hormuz return close to normal
- Move linked to progress in US-Iran nuclear negotiations
- Restores cooking gas access for hotels, restaurants, small businesses
India has lifted restrictions on commercial LPG supply, restoring normal sectoral mandates after Middle East tensions showed signs of easing amid growing hopes of a US-Iran nuclear agreement. The government's move, reported by Hindustan Times and confirmed by The Hindu, comes as oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz — through which a significant share of India's energy imports transit — returned to close-to-normal levels.
The restrictions had been put in place as a precautionary measure when the risk of conflict in the Persian Gulf threatened to disrupt India's energy supply chains. Commercial LPG is a lifeline for the hospitality and food-service sectors, and the curbs had created uncertainty for businesses ranging from large hotel chains to neighbourhood dhabas.
President Trump, meanwhile, declared that Iran was making 'big concessions' in ongoing nuclear talks, adding diplomatic momentum to the de-escalation narrative. A UN agency did report that it had paused a ship-evacuation initiative in the Hormuz region after a vessel was attacked, signalling that the situation remains fragile despite the broader easing.
For India, which imports a substantial portion of its energy requirements from the Gulf, the normalisation of Hormuz traffic is a significant relief. The government's decision to restore commercial gas supplies reflects confidence that the immediate supply-disruption risk has receded — though energy ministry officials and oil marketers will be watching US-Iran negotiations closely for any reversal.