India resumed imports of Iranian crude oil after a seven-year pause, with no payment issues, India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announced.

"In conditions of supply disruptions in the Middle East, Indian refineries secured the necessary quantities of crude oil, including from Iran," the ministry stated in an official communication on the X platform.

Crude oil imports from Iran to India were halted in 2019 following American sanctions imposed on Tehran. Since then, purchasing Iranian fuel became significantly more complicated for numerous countries, through both political pressure and blocked payment and transport mechanisms.

The ministry explicitly denied reports suggesting obstacles in processing payments for Iranian shipments. This is particularly significant given that restrictions on financial transactions with Tehran have historically been the main barrier to resuming energy trade.

The resumption of Indian procurement after a seven-year pause sends an important signal to global energy markets. As one of the world's leading energy consumers, India clearly needs stable refinery supplies amid growing regional uncertainty.