India has made its first purchase of Iranian oil in over seven years, as confirmed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. This decision comes amid ongoing disruptions in the Middle East that have impacted oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. The last shipment from Iran occurred in May 2019, following pressure from the United States to limit Iranian crude imports. The ministry emphasized that there are no payment hurdles for these imports, countering reports of payment issues that suggested a diversion of Iranian cargo to China. Additionally, India has secured its crude oil needs for the upcoming months from various sources, including 44,000 metric tons of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas that recently arrived at the port of Mangalore. The reinstatement of Iranian oil imports reflects India's strategy to diversify its oil sources amid global supply challenges.