Indian ships pass through Strait of Hormuz with Iranian permission granted

Iran Allows Some Indian Vessels to Pass Strait of Hormuz Amid Blockade

In a rare exception to the blockade imposed by Iran, two Indian-flagged tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are en route to India. According to Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the vessels were allowed to pass through the strait early morning on Saturday.

Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, confirmed that Tehran had granted permission for some Indian vessels to transit the strait in a limited capacity. However, he did not provide details on the number of vessels that have been provided safe passage.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical sea route that normally carries one-fifth of global oil supplies. The blockade has disrupted global energy supplies and prompted a shortage of cooking gas in India, which relies heavily on Iranian imports. In response to the shortage, the Indian government invoked emergency powers and directed refiners to maximize production of LPG.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announced an amendment to its supply order, prohibiting consumers with piped natural gas connections from retaining or obtaining domestic LPG cylinders. The amendment also restricts government oil companies from providing LPG connections or refills to consumers who already have PNG connections.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously spoken with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian about the transit of goods and energy from the Gulf, seeking exemptions for Indian vessels.

Source: Al Jazeera