Tehran: Iran has announced that ships from India, China, Iraq and Qatar are exempt from its restrictions on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a senior Iranian parliamentary representative. The announcement could help the four countries maintain access to the strategically important waterway amid continuing tensions and growing concerns over the safety of commercial shipping.
Amir Hayat Moqaddam, deputy chairman of Iran's Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, announced the decision on November 3. He said vessels from the four countries would be allowed to pass through the strait without facing the restrictions imposed on other ships. However, a detailed formal government order explaining the conditions and duration of the exemption has not been made public.
Moqaddam said Iran wanted to facilitate the import of medicines from India. He also indicated that the arrangement with China was intended to secure political support from Beijing. Qatari vessels were reportedly allowed to pass without transit charges, while Iraq was also included in the exemption.
The Iranian representative said Indian and Chinese ships were still paying transit fees. However, people familiar with India's diplomatic negotiations said the Indian government had not paid fees for vessels whose clearance was negotiated by the Ministry of External Affairs. The two accounts differ, and the exact financial arrangements for Indian vessels remain unclear.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns over the safety of commercial shipping and Indian seafarers in the region. India has repeatedly called for an end to attacks on commercial vessels and stressed the importance of protecting its nationals working in the maritime sector.
Security concerns increased following an attack on a commercial vessel near Limah, Oman, on November 2. The vessel, identified as MSV AL JUSUFI, was carrying 14 Indian nationals when the incident occurred.
India's Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said the vessel had been hit by an unidentified aerial object. One Indian sailor died from his injuries, while the remaining 13 crew members were rescued.
The deceased sailor was identified as Gandhar Nahim Ajij from Gujarat. The Ministry of External Affairs said the Indian government was coordinating with the relevant authorities for the repatriation of the surviving crew and the deceased sailor's remains. It also thanked the Omani authorities for their assistance in the rescue operation.
The latest incident has added to the growing number of Indian casualties linked to the wider conflict in West Asia. By November 4, reports citing official figures put the number of Indian nationals killed in the West Asia conflict at 24, including 15 seafarers.
Separately, five Indians had been killed and two remained missing following attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea region. These figures relate to separate incidents and should not be combined with the casualties reported in West Asia.
India has consistently called for a reduction in tensions, dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the regional conflict. It has also urged all parties to stop attacks on commercial vessels and civilian infrastructure and restore freedom of navigation through international waterways in accordance with international law.
The exemption announcement follows months of diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Tehran over the movement of Indian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. India has been particularly concerned about securing safe passage for ships carrying energy supplies and other essential goods.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is one of the world's most important maritime routes, with a significant share of global oil and gas supplies passing through it. The waterway is particularly important to India because the country depends heavily on imported energy.
A large proportion of India's liquefied petroleum gas imports and substantial quantities of its liquefied natural gas supplies from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates pass through the strait. Any prolonged disruption could affect energy supplies, increase shipping costs and create wider difficulties for international trade.
India has also introduced measures to protect its maritime workforce through its Seafarer First initiative. The programme provides for continuous monitoring of ships and seafarers, a round the clock control room and coordination with Indian diplomatic missions. Shipping companies have also received security advisories concerning vessels operating in high risk waters.
Meanwhile, the maritime security situation remains uncertain. On November 5, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said two oil tankers and a tugboat had caught fire in separate incidents in the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC said one tanker struck a mine while attempting to cross a passage south of the strait, while another caught fire in the eastern part of the waterway. A tugboat that approached the second vessel to assist with firefighting also caught fire. The circumstances surrounding the incidents have not been independently established.
Although the exemption could help Indian vessels secure passage through the important shipping route, questions remain about which ships qualify, what conditions they must meet and how long the arrangement will remain in force.
The announcement does not mean that the Strait of Hormuz has returned to normal operations or that vessels are protected from all security threats. For India, the immediate priority remains ensuring the safe movement of commercial ships, protecting its seafarers and maintaining access to essential energy supplies.
The reported exemption represents an important diplomatic development, but continuing security threats in the region remain a serious challenge for international shipping.