Iran lets Indian ships through the Strait of Hormuz
Indian vessels are exempt from Iran's shipping restrictions in the world's most important oil route — though they still pay a fee.
- 4 countries exempted: India, China, Iraq, Qatar
- Indian ships still pay transit charges
- Announced on 3 November 2026
What happened
A senior Iranian lawmaker, Ahmad Hayat-Moghaddam of parliament's national security committee, said on Tuesday that ships from India, China, Iraq and Qatar are exempt from Iran's restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz and can move freely.
Qatari ships pay no transit fee, he said, while Indian and Chinese vessels still have to pay charges. He linked India's exemption to keeping medicine imports into Iran flowing.
Why it matters
A big share of the world's oil and gas passes through this narrow channel, and India buys most of its crude from abroad. Any delay there pushes up freight costs and, eventually, fuel prices. The exemption comes in the same week as fresh attacks on tankers in the strait, so it gives Indian shippers some relief — but the route is still far from normal.
