11 India-bound ships carrying oil, fertilisers transited Hormuz since June 17: MEA

Eleven India-bound vessels, including three Indian-flagged crude oil tankers carrying about 2.85 lakh metric tonnes of crude each, have transited the Strait of Hormuz since June 17, signalling a gradual restoration of shipping traffic through the strategic waterway after disruptions caused by the Iran-Israel conflict, according to information shared by the government.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said vessel movement had resumed in both directions, with two Indian ships entering the Persian Gulf, and expressed hope that the remaining 10 Indian-flagged vessels stranded in the region when hostilities began will also be able to cross the Strait soon.

“As of today, we have 10 Indian-flagged vessels still in the Persian Gulf region. In addition, two have recently arrived there…Since the signing of the MoU on June 17, 11 India-bound vessels have transited through the Strait of Hormuz,” said MEA spokesman Randhir Jaiswal at a media briefing on Tuesday.

Of the 11 ships, there is one foreign-flagged crude oil tanker and six foreign-flagged bulk carriers, carrying fertilisers, said Jaiswal.

Responding to the withdrawal of sanctions on Iranian petroleum products by the US as part of the peace deal, the MEA said it is monitoring the developments in West Asia and that its energy sourcing is guided by national interest.

“We are closely monitoring all developments related to West Asia. As far as our energy sourcing is concerned, you are well aware that our policy is guided by national interest… Our priority is to ensure that 1.4 billion people have access to energy at affordable prices and from diverse sources. This has consistently been our policy,” said Jaiswal.

In a significant breakthrough in the West Asia crisis, which had disrupted energy flows and supply chains for India and several other countries, US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed an MoU, under which both sides agreed to immediately halt military operations, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lift the US naval blockade on Iranian ports.