Sri Lanka, April 4 -- Indian refiners have purchased Iranian oil amid the Middle East conflict that has disrupted supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, the oil ministry said on Saturday.

The world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer, India has not received a cargo from Tehran since May 2019, following U.S. pressure not to buy Iranian ⁠crude, but supply disruptions from the U.S.-Israel war have hit the South Asian nation hard.

"Amid Middle East supply disruptions, Indian refiners have secured their crude oil requirements, including from Iran; and there is no payment hurdle for Iranian crude imports," the oil ministry said on X.

Last month, the United States temporarily removed sanctions on Iranian oil and ⁠refined pro...