HORMUZ EXEMPTION: IRAN ALLOWS INDIAN, CHINESE, IRAQI AND QATARI SHIPS TO PASS AMID SHIPPING CRISIS
November 4, 2026
Iran has exempted commercial vessels from India, China, Iraq and Qatar from transit restrictions in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, with a senior Iranian lawmaker linking the decision to Tehran's economic and diplomatic interests amid the continuing military conflict in West Asia.
Amir Hayat Moghadam, deputy chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, announced the exemptions in an interview with the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) on Tuesday. He said ships from the four countries were permitted to pass through the waterway without facing the restrictions imposed on other vessels.
Moghadam explained that the exemptions reflected specific considerations and mutual interests between Iran and the countries concerned. Facilitating the movement of Indian vessels, he said, was intended to enable Iran to import medicines from India. The exemption for Chinese ships, meanwhile, was aimed at securing Beijing's political support.
The Iranian lawmaker also clarified that Indian and Chinese vessels were required to pay transit fees to Tehran, while Qatari ships were permitted to cross without charges. He did not specify whether Iraqi vessels were subject to similar fees.
The Strait of Hormuz, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world's most strategically important maritime corridors. Under normal circumstances, approximately 20 per cent of global energy supplies pass through the narrow waterway, making its disruption a major concern for international trade and energy security.
Commercial shipping through the strait has been severely disrupted since February 28, when the United States and Israel launched joint military attacks against Iran, triggering retaliatory strikes. Tehran subsequently moved to restrict traffic through the waterway, while Washington imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports weeks later.
Iran has since subjected vessels to restrictions and screening procedures, with some ships reportedly required to pay transit charges to secure passage.
The conflict has also taken a serious toll on Indian maritime personnel. At least 15 Indian seafarers had been killed in attacks on ships in the region since hostilities began, according to the report. In the latest incident, an Indian sailor died after an attack on the commercial vessel MSV Al Jusufi near Limah in Oman on Monday evening.
New Delhi has repeatedly called for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict and the restoration of unrestricted commercial navigation. The Indian government has described attacks on merchant vessels as deeply concerning and maintained that commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure must not be targeted.
Iran's decision to exempt Indian vessels from transit restrictions is therefore significant for bilateral maritime and economic relations, particularly given India's need to maintain access to essential supplies through the Gulf. However, the exemption does not amount to the restoration of unrestricted navigation for all international shipping, as restrictions on other vessels remain in place.
