Trump, India's Modi discuss Mideast in phone call, stress importance of keeping Strait of Hormuz 'open'

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation in the Middle East, and the two leaders stressed the "importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open."

“Received a call from my friend President Donald Trump,” Modi wrote on US social media company X.

Modi said they discussed the situation in the Middle East and “stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure.”

“We committed to further strengthening our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership in all areas,” he added.

This was the first call since a two-week ceasefire was announced on April 8 between Iran and the US, following the US-Israeli offensive on Iran that has killed more than 3,300 people since Feb. 28.

Washington and Tehran failed to reach an agreement in Pakistan's capital over the weekend during talks that were part of broader efforts to end the conflict.

Later, US President Donald Trump announced a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which took effect at 1400GMT Monday.