Iran exempts vessels of India, China, Iraq and Qatar from Strait of Hormuz transit restrictions

Exemptions for four countries

Iran has exempted vessels of India, China, Iraq and Qatar from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, Amir Hayat Moqaddam, deputy chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Iran's parliament, said in an interview with the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. “We have currently exempted India, China, Iraq and Qatar from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. Vessels of these countries pass freely, and the Americans do not intercept them either,” he said.

Terms for each country

According to the parliamentarian, the exemptions reflect mutual interests of Iran and the listed states. Tehran is easing passage for Indian vessels in order to be able to import medicines from India; the exemption of Chinese vessels is meant to secure Beijing's political support. At the same time, Iran charges transit fees from Indian and Chinese vessels, while Qatari vessels pass free of charge. He did not specify the terms for Iraqi vessels.

Context

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world's most important sea routes, through which large volumes of oil and gas from Persian Gulf countries are supplied to international markets. According to the agency, the US and Israel started a war against Iran on February 28, 2026; a ceasefire was reached in April, but in July hostilities between Washington and Tehran resumed after diplomatic efforts to end the conflict reached a dead end. The parliamentarian's statement reflects the position of a single deputy and is not an official document on passage rules; the full list of conditions and the scope of the restrictions remain unknown.