Guwahati: Amid rising concerns over a potential LPG and petrol supply disruption linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has said it will allow India and several other “friendly nations” to continue using the strategic waterway for commercial shipping.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that countries including India, China, Russia, Iraq and Pakistan would be permitted transit through the strait. “We have permitted certain countries that we consider friendly to pass through Strait of Hormuz. We allowed China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan to transit,” he said, according to Iranian state-run television.
At the same time, he made it clear that vessels linked to countries viewed as adversaries would not be allowed passage. “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 statement comes amid heightened global concern over the security of shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that accounts for nearly 20% of global oil and LNG trade. Prices of oil and gas have already shown an upward trend following reports of disruptions in the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran of “severe consequences” if the waterway is not fully reopened to international shipping.
India, which relies heavily on energy imports from West Asia, has stepped up diplomatic engagement in recent weeks, calling for de-escalation and the uninterrupted flow of energy supplies through the strait. Officials in New Delhi have expressed concern that any prolonged disruption could have significant implications for fuel availability and fertiliser supply, both of which are closely tied to imports routed through the region.
As West Asia remains a key source of India’s energy procurement, any instability in the Strait of Hormuz is being closely monitored for its potential economic and strategic impact.