Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Iran has reportedly allowed Indian ships to safely pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. In a significant development, an Indian vessel carrying 40,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has successfully crossed the crucial maritime route and is expected to reach the Indian coast within a week.

The vessel, named Shivalik, departed from Bandar Abbas port in Iran and crossed the Strait of Hormuz a few hours ago, according to sources. It is currently being escorted by the Indian Navy as it travels toward India.

Diplomatic Talks Between India and Iran

The safe passage comes after several rounds of diplomatic engagement between India and Iran amid escalating regional tensions.

The latest discussion reportedly took place between Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, and Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran. Their conversation focused on maintaining stability in energy supply routes and ensuring safe maritime navigation for Indian ships.

Sources said another Indian vessel is also expected to cross the Strait soon and dock at an Indian port in the coming days.

Impact of Middle East Conflict on Shipping Routes

Tensions in the region intensified following air strikes conducted on February 28 by the United States and Israel against targets in Iran. The conflict raised fears that Iran might block the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is responsible for the transit of a significant portion of global oil and gas shipments. Any disruption in this narrow waterway can severely affect global energy markets.

Reports of restricted access to the strait have already pushed global crude oil prices upward, reflecting concerns about supply disruptions.

Iran Reassures India on Safe Navigation

Earlier in the day, Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, reassured that Indian vessels would be allowed to pass through safely.

He stated that India and Iran share strong bilateral relations and common regional interests, adding that the situation would become clear within hours as ships continued to pass through the strait.

Meanwhile, Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, the representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in India, clarified that Iran has not officially closed the Strait of Hormuz despite the ongoing conflict.

He acknowledged that navigation has become more difficult due to regional tensions but confirmed that several ships are still using the route.

Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is widely considered one of the most important maritime chokepoints in the world. Nearly one-fifth of the global oil supply passes through this narrow passage every day.

For India, the route is crucial because the country imports a large portion of its crude oil and LPG from West Asian nations.

Ensuring uninterrupted access to this sea lane is essential for:

• Maintaining India’s energy security
• Stabilizing domestic fuel prices
• Preventing disruptions in global energy supply chains

Cold conditions have returned to the national capital after rainfall lashed parts of Delhi-NCR on Friday, January 23, bringing a noticeable dip in temperatures and relief from pollution. The mercury slipped below 10°C, marking a sharp turnaround after a brief spell of warmer days earlier this week.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi is likely to witness a further drop in temperatures over the next two days, with light rain predicted for today as well. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 20°C, while the minimum may dip to 6°C, intensifying the winter chill.

Rain Brings Clear Skies and Better Air Quality

Friday’s rainfall significantly altered weather conditions across the region. Cool northerly winds swept through the capital, leading to clearer skies and a marked improvement in visibility. Air quality levels also improved, with several monitoring stations recording a drop in pollution indices due to the washout effect of rain.

Meteorologists noted that the rain activity was concentrated mainly in the morning and early afternoon, gradually subsiding by evening.

Delhi Records Wettest January Day in Two Years

Delhi witnessed its first rain of 2026, which also turned out to be the wettest January day in the last two years. IMD data shows that the highest January rainfall on record was logged on January 30, 2023, when the city received 20.4 mm of rain.

On Friday, rainfall between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm was widespread across Delhi-NCR:

• Ridge: 17.4 mm
• Palam: 14.0 mm
• Lodi Road: 13.4 mm
• Safdarjung: 13.2 mm
• Ayanagar: 11.5 mm

Most weather stations reported light to moderate rainfall between 8:30 am and 2:30 pm, after which precipitation weakened significantly.

Weather Update for Other North Indian Cities

• Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Light rain is likely in the morning, with a minimum temperature around 10°C.
• Patna (Bihar): Clear skies are expected, with the minimum temperature settling near 13°C.
• Jaipur (Rajasthan): The minimum temperature may drop to around 5°C, with partly cloudy conditions likely.

What to Expect Next

IMD officials have indicated that the temperature dip could lead to cold day conditions in isolated pockets of Delhi-NCR. Early morning shallow fog may also develop over the next few days, especially in low-lying areas. Residents have been advised to take precautions against cold weather, particularly during early morning and late-night hours.

While no severe cold wave warning has been issued yet, authorities are monitoring conditions closely as winter tightens its grip once again on north India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday welcomed the Mahayuti alliance’s decisive victory in the Maharashtra municipal corporation elections, describing it as a clear indication of the deepening bond between the people of the state and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The results, covering elections to 29 municipal corporations, have delivered a strong endorsement of the alliance’s governance model and development agenda.

Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi thanked the people of Maharashtra for backing what he termed the NDA’s “pro-people and good governance” agenda. He said the mandate reflected public trust in the alliance’s track record and its vision for the future.

“Thank you Maharashtra! The dynamic people of the state bless the NDA’s agenda of pro-people good governance. This is a vote to add momentum to progress and celebrate the glorious culture the state is associated with,” the prime minister wrote.

Praise for NDA workers and campaign strategy

In a separate post, PM Modi lauded the efforts of NDA karyakartas, crediting them for working tirelessly at the grassroots level and effectively communicating the alliance’s message to voters. He noted that party workers played a crucial role in highlighting development initiatives while countering what he described as misinformation spread by opposition parties.

“They talked about our alliance’s track record, highlighted our vision for the coming times and also effectively countered the lies of the Opposition. My best wishes to them,” he said.

Mahayuti’s dominant performance across civic bodies

The Mahayuti alliance registered a commanding performance in the civic polls, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging as the single-largest party. The BJP won over 1,300 of the 2,869 seats contested across municipal corporations, reinforcing its organisational strength in urban Maharashtra.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena finished second within the alliance, securing 394 seats. The Congress surprised many observers by finishing third overall with victories in 315 seats, indicating pockets of resilience despite recent electoral setbacks.

Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) won 149 seats, while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which contested independently on several seats, secured 158 victories. Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM also made notable gains with over 90 seats, while Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) won 36 seats. Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) managed to secure around 12 seats.

Political significance ahead of key elections

Although the final tally is yet to be officially declared by the Maharashtra State Election Commission, political analysts see the results as a significant morale booster for the Mahayuti government led by Devendra Fadnavis, with Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar as deputy chief ministers. The outcome is being viewed as an important indicator of voter sentiment ahead of future state and national-level contests.

The civic poll victory is also expected to strengthen the NDA’s narrative of political stability, development-focused governance, and organisational unity in Maharashtra’s complex political landscape.