TEHRAN: Iran has exempted vessels from India, China, Iraq and Qatar from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian lawmaker said on Tuesday.
Ahmad Hayat-Moghaddam, vice-chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) that ships from the four countries were being allowed to pass through the strategic waterway.
"We have currently exempted India, China, Iraq and Qatar from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. Ships from these countries pass freely, and the Americans do not intercept them either," he said.
Explaining the reasons behind the exemptions, Hayat-Moghaddam said the arrangement for Indian vessels was partly intended to facilitate medicine imports from India. The exemption for Chinese ships, he said, was aimed at securing Beijing's political support.
He added that Iran continued to charge transit fees to Indian and Chinese vessels, while Qatari ships were allowed to pass without charge. He did not specify whether Iraqi vessels were required to pay.
The statement has not been confirmed by the Iranian government or India's Ministry of External Affairs. New Delhi has repeatedly called for unimpeded movement of energy supplies and freedom of navigation through international waterways.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is a major global energy shipping route, carrying a significant share of the world's seaborne oil trade. Iran restricted shipping through the strait after the war with the United States began in February.
The reported exemptions do not guarantee the safety of vessels. Attacks on merchant shipping in and around the region have killed Indian seafarers. In the latest incident, an India-flagged cargo vessel was hit off Oman this week, killing one sailor, while 13 others were rescued.
With inputs from PTI and media reports.