Indian ships ‘do not need permission’ when moving through Hormuz

Rajesh Kumar Sinha, a senior official at the Indian Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, confirmed on March 25 that ships flying the country’s flag are not stuck in the Persian Gulf area and “do not need a permit” from Iran to be allowed to move through the Strait of Hormuz. He emphasized that travel through this strait is governed by international maritime conventions, which ensure freedom of navigation.

Mr. Sinha made the statement after two Indian-flagged ships safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week, carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) destined for the Indian market. Two ships receiving goods from Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, with a total volume of more than 92,000 tons, are expected to dock in India on March 26-28.

Reporters asked Mr. Sinha whether New Delhi had asked permission or paid Tehran for ships to move safely through the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian military has repeatedly warned that cargo ships from “non-hostile” countries that want to pass through this area need to ask for permission and strictly follow instructions from Tehran.

“The decision to go through the strait belongs to the shipping company and the charterer. In this special context, they have assessed the level of safety before deciding. There is no need to ask for any permission,” Mr. Sinha said, and said that Indian ships passing through Hormuz only need to comply with the demarcated entrance and exit channel due to the narrow strait.

Maritime activities through Hormuz were almost paralyzed after the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, leading to Tehran’s retaliation against US and Israeli bases in the area. The conflict left a series of ships stranded and energy supplies interrupted.

Tracking data shows that two Indian ships on March 23 moved through the waters between Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands, possibly allowing Iranian forces to verify their identities before passing through Hormuz.

These are two of the 22 Indian ships in the Persian Gulf area before the conflict broke out. There are currently 20 ships flying the Indian flag in the war zone with about 540 crew members.

The Strait of Hormuz plays a key role in global energy security. About 20% of the world’s oil supply is affected by disruptions here, while ship traffic is down 95% compared to before the conflict. After more than three weeks of conflict, Iran may be allowing some ships to pass after verifying that their origin, cargo and ownership are not linked to the US or its allies.

India currently depends heavily on this transport route, with about 88% of crude oil, 50% of natural gas and 60% of imported LPG. Before the war, more than half of the country’s oil imports came from Gulf countries and used the Strait of Hormuz for transportation.

Iranian Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali once affirmed that Tehran sees New Delhi as a “reliable partner”, saying that India can play a substantive role in helping reduce tensions in the Middle East.