New Delhi, Aug 9 (HS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke over the phone with US Vice President JD Vance late on Saturday and discussed ways to further deepen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership across key areas.

Modi said in a post on X that the two leaders discussed measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

The Prime Minister also warmly congratulated Vance and the Second Lady on the birth of their son and conveyed his best wishes to the entire family.

The conversation came amid continuing developments in West Asia and concerns over the movement of commercial vessels and energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

Vance had said on Saturday that Washington was working to establish a route for commercial ships to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz while continuing to put pressure on Iran. He said the US was seeking to maximise the flow of oil and gas through the strategic waterway.

The call also came days after the US Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by an 86-11 vote. The legislation could authorise the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from countries that continue to purchase Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

The legislation has yet to clear the US House of Representatives before it can become law.

India remains one of the major buyers of Russian crude oil. Indian refiners increased their purchases of Russian crude after the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022, citing energy security and the availability of competitively priced supplies.

New Delhi has maintained that its energy procurement decisions are guided by national interest, energy security and the need to ensure affordable and reliable energy supplies for Indian consumers.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar