Iran has denied reports that it granted Indian-flagged oil tankers special permission to transit the strategic Strait of Hormuz, contradicting claims circulating in Indian media as maritime traffic remains disrupted by the ongoing US-led war on Iran.
No formal agreement has been reached allowing Indian vessels to pass through the crucial waterway, Iranian sources told Reuters.
The clarification follows reports that suggested at least two Indian tankers had safely crossed the strait after talks between India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.
An Iranian source disputed these claims, highlighting uncertainty over navigation in one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.
While an Indian source said New Delhi had secured permission for its tankers, neither India’s foreign ministry nor the Iranian embassy in New Delhi has issued official confirmation.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been heavily disrupted since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, sparking a wider regional conflict.
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Reuters previously reported that Iran had laid naval mines in the strait, effectively halting much of the oil and liquefied natural gas traffic through the corridor.
The strait is a vital route for global energy markets. According to the US Energy Information Administration, about 20 million barrels of oil per day passed through the strait in 2024, accounting for roughly 20 per cent of global petroleum liquids consumption. Nearly the same share of global liquefied natural gas trade also moves through the passage.
For India, the waterway represents a key energy lifeline, with around 40 per cent of the country’s crude oil imports passing through the strait, Reuters reported. Any disruption threatens India’s energy security.
Meanwhile, a senior Iranian security official told Lebanon-based broadcaster Al Mayadeen that no vessel had crossed the strait under US military protection, accusing Washington of conducting psychological warfare to influence global energy markets.
The source warned that the strait would either remain fully secure for all parties or face prolonged instability, adding that Iran was ready both to ensure security and to escalate the conflict if necessary.
Iranian military officials have also said that oil exports to “hostile parties and their partners” would not be allowed under wartime security regulations until further notice.
WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AGENCIES.
