Iran allows Indian, Chinese ships to transit Hormuz
Iran has exempted Indian ships from the restrictions it imposed on passage through the Strait of Hormuz, along with vessels from China, Iraq, and Qatar, a senior Iranian lawmaker has said. The exemptions are intended to serve Iran’s interests, and in India’s case, to facilitate imports of medicines, the deputy chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s […]
Iran has granted exemptions to Indian and Chinese ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, alongside vessels from Iraq and Qatar, according to a senior Iranian lawmaker. This move aims to serve Iran's strategic interests, particularly for India, to facilitate the import of vital medicines. The deputy chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Amir Hayat-Moghaddam, revealed this during a recent interview with the Iranian Students' News Agency.
The exemptions come in response to Iran's imposition of restrictions on passage through the vital waterway following the US-Israeli attack on February 28. In retaliation, Washington initiated a naval blockade of Iranian ports. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical conduit linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, once accommodated approximately twenty-five percent of global oil and gas shipments prior to the conflict.
Presently, India relies on the strait for around 90% of its crude oil requirements, with about 30% currently flowing through it. Additionally, the route handles the majority of India's liquefied petroleum gas imports, underscoring its significance for India's energy supplies.
While Iran collects transit fees from Indian and Chinese vessels, the Indian government has refrained from paying any fees for ships whose passage it negotiated through diplomatic channels, as reported by The Economic Times. India had previously sought passage for several energy shipments. In April, New Delhi summoned Iran's ambassador after two Indian-flagged ships encountered gunfire in the strait, urging Iran to resume facilitating safe passage.
Unfortunately, attacks on commercial shipping have persisted in the region. A recent incident on Monday saw an Indian sailor killed and 13 others rescued following the Indian-flagged MSV Al Jusufi coming under fire off Oman's coast. Another tanker was struck two weeks prior, but its 21 crew members managed to survive. India has firmly condemned these attacks, calling for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy, as well as the restoration of freedom of navigation and uninterrupted maritime trade. Additionally, India has emphasized the need for an end to attacks on commercial shipping.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
