Iran says Indian ships exempt from Strait of Hormuz transit restrictions
Iran has reportedly exempted vessels from India, China, Iraq and Qatar from shipping restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, although Indian and Chinese ships remain subject to transit fees.
Amir Hayat-Moghaddam, deputy chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) on November 3 that vessels from the four countries were permitted to transit the strategic waterway despite continuing restrictions on commercial shipping, as reported by Anadolu Agency.
The lawmaker said the exemptions reflected Iran’s economic and diplomatic interests. In India’s case, the arrangement was intended to facilitate pharmaceutical imports, while the exemption for Chinese vessels was linked to securing Beijing’s political support.
Hayat-Moghaddam also said Iran was collecting transit fees from Indian and Chinese vessels, while allowing Qatari ships to pass without charges. He did not clarify whether Iraqi ships were subject to similar payments.
Although the announcement suggests preferential transit arrangements for the four countries, the specific conditions governing passage, including vessel eligibility and security procedures, have not been independently confirmed through an official government directive.
The announcement follows months of negotiations over access to the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, security risks remain elevated in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Recent incidents include attacks against commercial vessels and the death of an Indian seafarer near Oman.
For shipowners and operators, the reported exemptions could facilitate additional vessel movements through the strategic waterway. However, uncertainty surrounding implementation, transit fees and continuing security threats means that the announcement does not constitute a guarantee of safe passage.
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