India
Iran Grants Passage Freedom to Indian, Chinese, Iraqi, Qatari Vessels Through Hormuz
Iran has announced that merchant ships from India, China, Iraq and Qatar may transit the Strait of Hormuz without restrictions. The decision, stated by Amir Hayat‑Moghaddam, deputy chairman of the Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee, aims to facilitate India’s import of medicines and secure China’s political support. Iranian authorities will collect transit fees from Indian and Chinese vessels, while Qatari ships will pass free of charge; the fee status for Iraqi vessels was not clarified. India imports nearly 90% of its crude oil, with about 30% of those imports currently routed through Hormuz, a waterway that also handles a large share of the country’s LPG, LNG and fertilizer imports. Iran’s move comes amid ongoing restrictions on shipping in the strait, including a system that requires ships to provide identification and cargo details. The International Maritime Organization reported at least 70 attacks on merchant ships between February and August of the conflict, resulting in 19 seafarer deaths, 15 of whom were Indian. The Strait of Hormuz, situated between Iran and Oman, accounts for roughly 25% of global sea‑borne oil supplies from West Asia.