Tehran/New Delhi, Mar 26: Iran has allowed India, along with China, Russia, Iraq and Pakistan, to use the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping even as it restricts access to vessels linked to its adversaries, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said.
The move comes amid a virtual blockade of the strategic waterway by Tehran, triggering a surge in global oil and gas prices. The Strait of Hormuz, located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, handles around 20 per cent of global oil and LNG supplies.
“We have permitted certain countries that we consider friendly to pass through. We allowed China, Russia, India, Iraq and Pakistan to transit,” Araghchi said, according to Iranian state television.
He, however, asserted that ships associated with Iran’s adversaries would not be allowed passage, citing the ongoing conflict in the region. “We are in a state of war. The region is a war zone, and there is no reason to allow the ships of our enemies and their allies to pass through. But it remains open to others,” he said.
The development has heightened global concerns over disruptions in commercial shipping, with US President Donald Trump warning Iran of serious consequences if the waterway is not fully reopened.
India, which depends significantly on West Asia for energy supplies, has in recent weeks intensified diplomatic efforts to ensure uninterrupted flow of oil and gas through the Strait.
New Delhi has expressed concern that a prolonged disruption could have serious implications for fuel and fertiliser security for several countries, including India. (Agencies)
