Three weeks have passed since Iran’s war with Israel and America started. During this time, while Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on sea vessels passing through there has created a major problem in the supply of crude oil across the world, a senior American official working under the administration of former US President Joe Biden has given a big statement regarding India.

Describing India as the most prominent arbitrator of the 21st century, Daniel Benaim said that the Gulf countries see New Delhi as a superpower of the future.

What did the former American official say?

Arabian Peninsula expert Daniel Benaim said while talking to news agency ANI that Gulf countries greatly appreciate India’s strategic and diplomatic relations and also see it as a major power of the future. Apart from this, on the friendship and relations between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, he said that the countries of the Gulf region are fully determined to expand larger, comprehensive and strategic relations with India.

Countries like Oman have close relations with India: Anonymous

Benaim said that after talking to all the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), it is clear that almost all the countries in the region see India as a big power of the future. He said that this is not just because they get labor and send capital from India, but they consider India to be the biggest middleman of the 21st century.

He said that if not immediately then it will definitely happen with time. This is the direction of the future. Everyone is watching it and appreciating it. This is why there is an agreement with a country like Oman, but this is why there is such a strong relationship between PM Modi and Mohammed bin Zayed.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (March 17) spoke on phone to United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and wished him Eid in advance. The tension in Western Asia was also discussed between the two leaders. India strongly condemned the attacks on UAE. PM Modi has posted the information about his conversation with the UAE President on social media platform X.

Talks also took place on the Strait of Hormuz

PM Modi spoke to UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the issue of security and unhindered movement in the Strait of Hormuz. Also reiterated the need to continue working together for early restoration of peace, security and stability in the region.

PM Modi’s post on X

Prime Minister Modi posted on social media platform We discussed the current situation in West Asia.

The Prime Minister said, ‘We reiterated India’s strong condemnation of all attacks on the UAE, which have resulted in loss of innocent lives and damage to civilian infrastructure. We agreed on the importance of ensuring safe and unimpeded navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. We will continue to work together for the early restoration of peace, security and stability in the region.

Spoke with my brother HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and conveyed advance Eid greetings.

We discussed the current situation in West Asia. Reiterated India’s strong condemnation of all attacks on the UAE that have resulted in loss of innocent lives…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 17, 2026

Earlier, the government has denied the reports, saying that it is demanding the release of three oil tankers seized by India in return for ensuring safe passage of Indian flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Top government sources said that this report is baseless and no such discussion has taken place between the officials of India and Iran.

India is in touch with Tehran to safely bring back more than 20 Indian-flagged merchant ships from the Strait of Hormuz. Following talks between the two sides, two Indian-flagged LPG carrier ships, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, transited the Strait of Hormuz carrying 92,712 metric tonnes of LPG in the early hours of Saturday.

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