India Buys Iranian LPG Tanker Headed for China Amid Hormuz Crisis, Pays in Rupees

• India purchased an Iranian LPG tanker, Aurora, that was originally bound for China, amidst the ongoing Hormuz crisis.
• This marks the first time in years India has bought LPG from Iran, following a 2019 halt due to Western sanctions.
• The deal was made in the middle of the sea and payment was reportedly made in Indian rupees through a trader.
• The LPG shipment is expected to arrive at Mangalore's West Coast Port and will be distributed among three state-owned fuel retailers.
• India, the world's second-largest LPG importer, is facing its most severe gas supply shortage in decades.