Iran on Friday assured that Indian vessels will receive safe passage through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, describing New Delhi as a “friend” with shared regional interests, even as India has begun consultations with fellow members of BRICS to evolve a “consensus” position on the escalating conflict in West Asia.The twin developments reflect India’s parallel diplomatic and strategic efforts to navigate the fallout of the intensifying regional crisis that has raised concerns over energy flows and maritime security. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Iran’s Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali said Tehran recognised India’s importance and would facilitate unhindered navigation for its ships.“Yes, because India is our friend. You will see it within two or three hours. We believe that Iran and India share common interests in the region,” Fathali said after attending the International Quds Day Conference in the capital.The assurance comes at a time when the Strait of Hormuz—through which a large share of global oil shipments passes—has emerged as a critical concern for India’s energy security amid the ongoing conflict.Meanwhile, one of the 28 Indian-flagged vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoing hostilities in the region has since sailed away safely, a senior official said. The remaining 27 are operating near the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, carrying 753 Indian seafarers. About 23,000 Indian seafarers are currently working across the Gulf region. Fathali said high-level discussions between Indian and Iranian officials had taken place recently and expressed optimism that obstacles affecting bilateral cooperation would soon be resolved.“We have a good relationship with India. All high-ranking officials held discussions yesterday…. We have tried our best to resolve the problems and you will hear good news in the near future,” he said.On the diplomatic front, the Ministry of External Affairs said India was engaging with BRICS partners to build a common position on the crisis. Briefing the media, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was in touch with other members of the grouping so that “a consensus position can evolve on this issue”.India, which currently holds the presidency of BRICS, has called for resolving the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the evolving situation, stressing the need to safeguard Indian citizens and ensure the security of trade and energy routes.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, the fourth conversation between the two ministers since hostilities erupted on February 28.According to Tehran, Araghchi briefed Jaishankar on the latest developments following what Iran described as US-Israel aggression and emphasised Iran’s resolve to exercise its right to self-defence.Significantly, the Iranian minister highlighted the importance of BRICS as a platform for strengthening multilateral cooperation among emerging powers and urged the grouping to play a constructive role in safeguarding regional and global stability.The MEA said India continued to monitor the safety of its nationals in the region. Since February 28, about 1.5 lakh Indians have returned home from various West Asian countries.In addition, 1,170 Indian nationals crossed from Iran into Armenia in recent days, many of whom subsequently returned to India on commercial flights.The ministry’s control room set up on March 4 has so far received around 900 phone calls and 200 emails, with the number of requests now gradually declining, officials said.