Iranian Lawmaker Says Indian Ships Exempt from Hormuz Transit Restrictions
A senior Iranian lawmaker has said that ships from India, China, Iraq and Qatar are exempt from Iran’s shipping restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman’s Musandam Peninsula that links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Amir Hayat-Moghaddam, deputy chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, made the claim to the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) on 3 November. It was later reported by Anadolu Agency.
According to the lawmaker, Indian and Chinese ships may pass but still pay transit fees, while Qatari ships pass free. He did not say whether Iraqi ships pay. He linked the Indian exemption to easing the import of medicines.
However, no official government directive has confirmed the claim. Which ships qualify, what security checks apply and other conditions remain unclear. The statement also does not guarantee safe passage.
The region remains dangerous. An Indian seafarer was killed earlier this week when the India-flagged MSV Al Jusufi was struck near Limah, on Oman’s coast, and other tankers have been hit near the strait in recent days. Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority has also expanded its list of “non-compliant” ships to 240 vessels.
Indian seafarers on ships heading for the Gulf should not treat this claim as a safety assurance. Crews and managers should continue to follow official advisories from Indian authorities, the flag state and UKMTO, keep security measures in place, and remember their rights in the IBF warlike operations area.
