Trump dials Modi for 40-minute call; PM says ‘stressed importance of keeping Hormuz open’

Confirming that the phone call lasted for about 40 minutes, Sergio Gor, US Ambassador to India, too took to X: “A very positive and productive call! Stay tuned.”

The two leaders last spoke on March 24, their first phone call after the start of the war on February 28. Both calls were made by Trump and they discussed the “importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open”.

Received a call from my friend President Donald Trump. We reviewed the substantial progress achieved in our bilateral cooperation in various sectors. We are committed to further strengthening our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership in all areas. We also discussed the…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 14, 2026

With both sides underlining the importance of the Strait of Hormuz and keeping the waterway open, it signalled the concern over disruption in global energy supply chains.

The Strait of Hormuz is the key channel through which 20 per cent of the global energy supply – and majority of gas supply from Qatar – passes in large carriers. Qatar, UAE, Kuwait have all been negatively impacted by the closure of the Strait, and that has led to a global rise in prices of oil and gas, and impacted the supply of cooking gas in India and other countries.

The reference to a review of bilateral ties and commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership suggests that the two leaders are working towards stabilising the relationship after the strain in ties last year over US imposition of tariffs on India.

After the call Tuesday, Gor said some “big-ticket deals”, including on energy, are expected to be sealed between India and the US in the next “few days and weeks”.

The call ended with Trump telling Modi, “I just want you to know we all love you”, according to Gor. He was speaking on the sidelines of an event to mark the reopening of Roosevelt House, the US Embassy residence in Delhi.

“We have some big-ticket items that will be announced over the next few days or weeks, and the relationship is on a firm footing. We will have something very interesting and exciting… in terms of some of the deals that might occur, might get announced soon, it’ll be related to energy. It’ll be related to some other items, but stay tuned. That’s all I’ll say.”

On the Modi-Trump discussion on West Asia, Gor said the US President wanted to update the Prime Minister on the overall situation in the region.

“You have a nation that is holding the entire world hostage. These are international waterways. There are international treaties,” he said, referring to Iran blocking the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

“There’s only one reason that prices (of oil and gas) have gone up. It is because somebody is holding this area hostage. So obviously, the United States wants to open this waterway. And so, I think it benefits the whole world, including here in India,” he said.

Gor said Modi and Trump also discussed the US naval blockade of Iran’s ports.

On the prospect of future talks, he said, “It’s not for me to announce any future talks. They did talk about the blockade and the importance of it reopening as soon as possible. Frankly, this whole region, the whole world is suffering because of this. Why should one country be able to turn off the lights anywhere else in the world? It’s unfair. It needs to stop, and the United States is determined to make that happen.”

On whether the US was looking at an Indian contribution to de-escalate the situation in West Asia, Gor said, “That’s a question for the Indian government. But from our side, the President has offered involvement around the world, as you have seen engagement happen.”

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has been in touch with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also met Rubio during his visit to Washington DC last week.

Rubio is planning to travel to India next month and preparations are underway to schedule a meeting of the Quad Foreign Ministers in the second half of May.

Asked if Trump has any plan to visit India soon, Gor said the focus now is on Rubio’s trip. “The Secretary (Rubio) is coming here next month, which we’re very excited by… He doesn’t just show up. We actually have some incredible deals that we’re hoping to finalise in time for his visit at the end of May,” he said.

He said the US is also looking forward to a Quad ministerial meeting. “We’re very much looking forward to having a ministerial Quad meeting here in India. This is also the Secretary’s first visit to India. So he’s very excited to come, not only to Delhi, but also to visit other places,” he said.

“India is vitally important to us. It’s an incredible partner and the President also has an incredible relationship with your Prime Minister… If you look at Secretary Rubio, he does not travel because he’s full-time at the White House also. So the fact that he is coming over here shows the level of importance that the United States gives to India,” he said.

“I just came back from Washington, where I met with the entire Cabinet, and that included the Treasury Secretary and USTR ( United States Trade Representative), Department of War, Energy. And so we do have some big ticket items that will be announced over the next few days or the next few weeks,” Gor said.