India Urges Restraint as Iran Responds to Trump Ultimatum over Energy Infrastructure

India has entered the diplomatic fray of the escalating U.S.-Iran crisis, issuing a stern warning at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). New Delhi expressed deep concern over the safety of commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, noting that its own vessels are among those stranded. Envoy Vikram Doraiswamy emphasized that interference with maritime trade is driving dangerous oil price volatility and urged all parties to return to immediate dialogue. In Tehran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a direct response to President Donald Trump’s recent 48-hour ultimatum. Iranian officials stated that threats against the nation's power plants and infrastructure would be met with robust battlefield confrontation and reciprocal strikes on U.S. assets. While maintaining that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to neutral traffic, the IRGC warned that 'aggressors' would be blocked, framing the U.S. pressure as a catalyst for Iranian national unity. The economic ripples of the standoff are being felt worldwide. Energy experts suggest that oil markets may face years of instability regardless of the immediate military outcome. While some regions, such as Alberta, Canada, are seeing increased royalties due to price hikes, others are facing humanitarian emergencies. Cuba, in particular, is reportedly suffering from total grid collapses exacerbated by U.S.-linked oil blockades, prompting international aid efforts to mitigate the energy shortage. No new military strikes were confirmed in the 24 hours leading up to March 23.