Iran exempts Indian ships from Strait of Hormuz transit restrictions
Vessels from India, China, Iraq and Qatar can now pass through the waterway without limitations, according to an Iranian lawmaker.
Iran has exempted vessels from India, China, Iraq and Qatar from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports by Moneycontrol, India Today and India TV. Ahmad Hayat-Moghaddam, the deputy chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, announced the decision on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Hayat-Moghaddam told the Iranian Students' News Agency that ships from these four countries pass freely and are not intercepted by Americans. He noted that while Iran collects transit fees from Indian and Chinese vessels, Qatari ships are allowed to pass without charge. The reason for Iraq's exemption was not specified.
The exemption for Indian vessels is intended to facilitate the import of medicines into Iran. For China, the arrangement is linked to Tehran's expectation of political backing from Beijing. The lawmaker stated that each exemption has a distinct reason as the country conducts business.
The announcement comes as shipping through the strategic waterway remains under pressure due to the West Asia conflict. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, serving as a critical route for global energy supplies.
Separately, Iran's Revolutionary Guard said four oil tankers were destroyed after striking naval mines while attempting to cross a prohibited route south of the strait. The elite corps stated the tankers were still ablaze and that two other vessels had been seized.
