Dubai: Amid escalating tensions and shipping disruptions in one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, Iran has announced that commercial vessels from India, China, Iraq, and Qatar will be exempted from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. This strategic move aims to ensure the unimpeded flow of essential goods and energy supplies for these four nations.
The announcement was made by Amir Hayat Moghadam, Deputy Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, during an interview with the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) on Tuesday.
“We have currently exempted four countries—India, China, Iraq and Qatar—from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. Ships from these countries pass freely, and the Americans do not intercept them either,” Hayat Moghadam was quoted as saying.
The Iranian official elaborated that these exemptions are driven by specific mutual interests rather than a blanket policy shift. For New Delhi, the exemption is strategically linked to Tehran’s critical need to import medicines from India. Meanwhile, Beijing’s exemption is aimed at securing continuous political support and deepening economic ties with China.
Hayat Moghadam further disclosed that Iran is collecting transit fees from Indian and Chinese vessels using the waterway. Qatari vessels, however, have been permitted to pass without any charges. The official did not clarify whether Iraqi ships are required to pay the transit fees.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for global energy supplies, with millions of barrels of oil passing through it daily. However, the region has been fraught with severe shipping disruptions and targeted attacks on commercial vessels since February.
The Government of India has repeatedly expressed deep concern over the volatile situation in the region, advocating for the restoration of free and safe navigation. The attacks in the strategic maritime corridor have claimed the lives of at least 15 Indian seafarers since the conflict escalated. The latest exemption provides much-needed relief to Indian shipping and trade interests in the volatile Middle East.