India gets safe passage for oil tankers through Hormuz amid war tensions

New Delhi : In a significant diplomatic development for India amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Iran has reportedly allowed Indian oil tankers and container ships to pass through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz despite the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

The move is being seen as a major diplomatic win for New Delhi, ensuring that India’s vital crude oil supplies are not severely disrupted during the ongoing geopolitical crisis in the region.

Sources indicated that the clearance came after a telephonic conversation between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi. Following the discussion, Iranian authorities reportedly permitted Indian vessels carrying crude oil and essential cargo to move through the narrow maritime corridor.

The development assumes significance as the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy shipping routes, through which nearly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass every day.

Amid the tense situation, a crude oil tanker has now successfully reached India after navigating the strait. The vessel, carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia, arrived at Mumbai Port on Wednesday, marking the first such shipment to reach India since the conflict escalated.

The tanker, sailing under a Liberian flag and identified as Shenlong, had departed from the Saudi oil terminal at Ras Tanura Port on March 1 carrying a large consignment of crude oil bound for India.

However, the ship’s journey was briefly disrupted when Iran temporarily closed access to the Strait of Hormuz following intense attacks by the United States and Israel. The tanker remained stranded in the sea for several days as maritime traffic in the region came to a halt due to security concerns.

Tracking data showed that the vessel last transmitted its location inside the Strait of Hormuz on March 8 before disappearing from monitoring systems. It reappeared on global shipping databases on March 9, indicating that navigation had resumed.

The tanker is carrying approximately 135,335 metric tonnes of crude oil, which is currently being unloaded at Mumbai Port. According to the port authorities, it will take nearly 36 hours to complete the offloading process before the crude is transported to refineries located in Mahul in eastern Mumbai.

The vessel is managed by the Athens-based shipping firm Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd.

Officials said the ship has a crew of 29 members, including Indian, Pakistani and Filipino sailors.

Meanwhile, the crisis in the Gulf region continues to affect international shipping routes. According to India’s Directorate General of Shipping, at least 28 Indian-flagged vessels remain stuck along key maritime routes since the conflict began.

Industry experts say India’s ability to secure safe passage for its ships highlights the importance of sustained diplomatic engagement in volatile regions. Given India’s heavy dependence on imported crude oil, maintaining uninterrupted access to global energy supply routes remains a key strategic priority for the government.