Iran lifts Hormuz transit curbs for ships from India, China, Iraq and Qatar, could ease pressure on India’s oil and gas supply

New Delhi: Iran has lifted its Strait of Hormuz transit restrictions for ships from India, China, Iraq and Qatar, a development that could ease pressure on India's oil and gas supply. Officials attributed the move to shared interests with these nations, including the import of medicines from India.

"We have currently exempted 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," Amir Hayat Moqaddam, deputy chairman of the Iranian parliament's national security and foreign policy committee, told the Iranian Students' News Agency on Tuesday.

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Moqaddam said that the exemptions aligned with the shared interests of Iran and the four nations, noting that clearing the way for Indian vessels would allow for the import of medicines from India. The exemption for Chinese vessels was intended to secure Beijing's political support, he said.

Iran had collected transit fees from Indian and Chinese ships but allowed Qatari vessels to pass without charges, Moqaddam said. He did not clarify whether Iraqi ships were required to pay transit fees.

People familiar with the matter told ET that the Indian government did not pay any transit fees for ships whose clearance was negotiated by the external affairs ministry.

Between March and June, India and Iran held intense negotiations to allow India-bound ships carrying energy supplies to pass through the Strait. India was among a handful of countries that could successfully bring ships through Hormuz, given its goodwill with Tehran.

The Strait of Hormuz navigation had figured prominently during the Iranian President's trip to India, as well as during several other conversations in which India pitched for freedom of navigation.