New Delhi's Middle East diplomacy paid off on Thursday as Iran allowed Indian oil tankers to pass through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz after talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, sources told India Today.

The discussions were aimed at ensuring that India'senergy supplies remain uninterrupted amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints, through which a significant portion of global crude oil and natural gas shipments transit, according to India Today.