Iranian lawmaker says Indian ships exempt from Hormuz curbs but Delhi has no clue

What Tehran Said

A senior member of Iran's Parliament, Amir Hayat-Moghaddam, who serves as Deputy Chairman of its National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, has stated that India, China, Iraq and Qatar have been exempted from restrictions Iran has placed on vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz. He reportedly made the remarks to the Iranian Students' News Agency, and local media carried them. According to his account, the exemption for India was meant to ease imports of medicines, while the one for China was linked to securing political backing from Beijing.

No Official Word to Delhi

New Delhi has not received any formal communication from Tehran on this reported exemption, and sources indicate the existing procedures for Indian ships transiting the waterway remain unchanged. It is also unclear whether the Iranian government or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps backs the lawmaker's claim, or under what authority the statement was made. The Indian Mission in Tehran is said to see no change in the current procedure. The statement does not settle whether an exemption is actually in force, or whether it would cover all Indian-flagged vessels and cargoes.

Why It Matters for Trade

The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and is a vital route for global energy shipments. India has consistently sought unimpeded navigation there, given its dependence on the corridor for crude oil, LPG and LNG imports. India is also a major supplier of pharmaceutical products to Iran, which has struggled to obtain medicines and other critical imports amid international sanctions and ongoing conflict. For exporters, importers, shipowners and their advisers, the practical position is that no verified change in transit rules has been confirmed, so existing compliance and documentation practices for the route should be treated as continuing until official clarity emerges.

What to Watch

Readers should track whether Tehran issues any…