Iran’s Hormuz exemption likely to bring relief to India’s oil importers

NEW DELHI: Iran has exempted commercial ships from four countries, including India and China, from transit restrictions in Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian lawmaker has said, amid continued attacks on vessels attempting to cross the strategic energy corridor. The statement has raised hopes among shipping lines of resuming voyages to transport crude oil, gas and fertilisers after a gap of nearly eight months.Shipping industry executives, however, said they were in “wait and watch” mode and would seek greater clarity before deciding to send vessels through the strait. They said the reported exemption could significantly reduce security risks for Indian ships and seafarers.In an interview with Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) Tuesday, Amir Hayat-Moghaddam, deputy chairman of Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said, “We have currently exempted four countries — India, China, Iraq and Qatar — from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz.