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Iran has permitted Indian-flagged vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz following back-channel diplomatic negotiations between New Delhi and Tehran - even as the waterway remains effectively closed to ships linked to the United States, Europe, and Israel, according to several media reports.
The Indian-flagged tankers Pushpak and Parimal transited the Strait of Hormuz safely, according to News18 quoting people familiar with the matter.
First Crude Tanker Reaches Mumbai Since Iran War Began
The most consequential development, first reported by Hindustan Times, involves a Liberian-flagged vessel that has now berthed at Mumbai port — the first India-destined tanker to complete the passage through the strait since hostilities erupted.
The Shenlong, a Suezmax-class tanker, loaded crude at the Saudi port of Ras Tanura on 1 March and departed two days later. Its last recorded position within the strait was on 8 March, according to maritime intelligence firms Lloyd's List Intelligence and TankerTrackers, before it went dark — switching off its transponders and Automatic Identification System to avoid detection as it navigated the contested waters. It reappeared on tracking databases on 9 March.
The vessel arrived at Mumbai port at 1 pm on Wednesday and was berthed by early evening.
"The ship Shenlong is carrying 1,35,335 metric tonnes of crude oil. She is berthed at Jawahar Dweep and has started discharging the crude cargo," Praveen Singh, deputy conservator of the Mumbai Port Authority told Hindustan Times. The cargo is destined for refineries in Mahul, in eastern Mumbai.
"There are 29 Indian, Pakistani and Filipino crew on board, while the ship's captain is Sukshant Singh Sandhu. The ship will take nearly 36 hours to discharge the cargo," HT quoted Jitendra Jadhav of Atlantic Global Shipping, which is handling the Shenlong's Mumbai operations.
The tanker is owned by Shenlong Shipping Ltd and managed by Athens-based Dynacom Tanker Management Ltd, the HT report adds.
Why Iran Might Have Made an Exception for India?
The Strait of Hormuz's safe passage for Indian vessels was a central concern when External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar spoke with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi late on Tuesday - their third conversation since the Iran-US war began.
On Wednesday, Jaishankar also held calls with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, discussing the conflict's ramifications for global energy markets and security.
"A good telecon with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia. Shared our assessments on the West Asia conflict and related efforts. Also took stock of our bilateral cooperation agenda," Jaishankar wrote on X.
Iran's calculus in allowing Indian-flagged vessels through while blocking Western-linked shipping appears partly self-serving. Shipping analysts note that Tehran has an incentive to keep the waterway at least partially functional as long as its own crude exports continue to flow.
Data reviewed by Reuters indicated Iranian oil shipments through the strait have continued at near-normal volumes, with TankerTrackers.com estimating Iran has exported approximately 13.7 million barrels of crude since the war began on 28 February.
Dozens of Indian Vessels Still Stranded in Strait of Hormuz
Despite the Shenlong's safe arrival, the broader picture for Indian shipping remains precarious. Twenty-eight Indian-flagged vessels remain in or near the strait, according to India's Directorate General of Shipping.
In recent days, seven — the Desh Mahima, Desh Abhiman, Swarna Kamal, Vishva Prerna, Jag Viraat, Jag Lokesh, and LNGC Aseem, have moved into the relative safety of the Arabian Sea, while the Jag Lakshya has proceeded towards Angola, reports Hindustan Times.
Many vessels have resorted to deactivating AIS transponders or adopting Chinese vessel identities amid widespread signal spoofing and jamming in the region, the HT report adds.
"There is no official restriction from the government's side for Indian-flagged vessels on sailing from the strait. However, they are required to assess threats and have appropriate situational awareness if they decide to set sail," a government official said according to media reports.
Attack on India-Bound Vessel Raises Alarm
Even as diplomatic channels showed signs of progress, a Thai-flagged bulk carrier bound for India came under attack in the strait, setting part of the vessel ablaze and triggering an emergency rescue operation.
The Mayuree Naree, a 178-metre carrier owned by Bangkok-listed Precious Shipping Pcl, had departed Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates and was heading to Kandla in Gujarat when it was struck by an unidentified projectile.
India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a sharp condemnation. "India deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict in West Asia," the ministry said, adding that "the intensity and lethality of the attacks only seems to be increasing."
Energy Security Hangs in the Balance
The stakes for India are considerable. More than half of the country's crude oil and natural gas supplies ordinarily pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making safe transit not merely a diplomatic abstraction but an immediate economic necessity. The Shenlong's safe arrival will offer some relief to policymakers, but with dozens of vessels still in uncertain waters and attacks on commercial shipping continuing, India's energy supply chain remains deeply exposed to a conflict it had no part in starting.
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