According to an Indian Government source, Iran may allow Indian-flagged tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for 40% of the South Asian nation’s crude imports. However, an Iranian source outside the country denied that any such deal had been reached.
The Indian government said that the foreign ministers of the two countries have held 3 recent conversations, focusing on ‘issues about the safety of shipping and India’s energy security.’
A Liberia-flagged vessel, Suezmax tanker Shenlong, carrying Saudi crude, arrived at a port in Mumbai on Thursday after transiting the Strait, marking the first crude carrier to reach India from the Middle East since the Iran-U.S. and Israel conflict escalated in late February, according to LSEG data.
According to reports, two other foreign-flagged tankers believed to be bound for India had recently transited the Strait, and Iran had given assurances of safe passage for Indian-flagged vessels.
In a statement, Iran’s foreign ministry said the United States should be held accountable for the “insecure situation and problems arising for shipping in the Persian Gulf”.
On Wednesday, India reported that 28 Indian-flagged vessels were operating in the waters west and east of the Strait, with a total of 778 Indian sailors aboard, indicating active maritime engagement in the region.
