US and Iran standoff over Strait of Hormuz, but Indian vessels still cross key waterway: Here’s how | Today’s news
As the US and Iran continue to work towards a final deal to end the war in the Middle East, India has seen several ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key sea route that has seen major disruptions to vessel movement.
The arrivals not only ensured continued supplies of essential resources despite global energy uncertainty, but also lauded diplomatic efforts that helped keep India’s shipping operations active on the narrow but arterial waterway, responsible for transporting nearly a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies in pre-war times.
But the question many are asking is: how do Indian ships navigate a vital waterway that Tehran has de facto control of due to its geographical advantage and through which many vessels have headed to warn the United States and Israel?
Read also | Strait of Hormuz, nuclear stockpiles: Two sticking points in Iran-US talks
Here’s how Indian ships cross the tense Strait of Hormuz
According to a Hindustan Times report, at a routine press conference on Friday, the shipping ministry shared some details about efforts and coordination between India, Iran and stakeholders regarding the movement of ships.
Opesh Kumar Sharma, director of shipping at the Ministry of Ports, told an inter-ministerial briefing: “In terms of how we coordinate with India, Iran, how we decide on priority, I wouldn’t want to tell you, you know, for obvious reasons how we coordinate. So we coordinate through the MEA and that’s where we are.”
Regarding priorities, he added that decisions are made in coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG), the Ministry of Fertilizers, and then coordinated priorities are prepared with which they try to get the ships out.
Commenting on whether the availability of ship data in the public domain hinders the movement of vessels, Sharma said, “It is very difficult to answer that. Any data that is in the public domain can be used by a person in any way. It depends on their intent. But from now on, the data helps us and you to track the ships as well.”
The official also noted that there are 13 Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz: one LPG tanker, five crude oil tankers, one chemical or product tanker, three container ships, two bulk carriers and one dredger.
Read also | Iran targets Indian-flagged ships in Hormuz, New Delhi summons envoys
Iran continues to tighten its grip on the Strait of Hormuz
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively halted since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran in late February, killing its top leaders, including the supreme leader. In retaliation, Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shut down the movement of ships on the waterway.
Despite a shaky ceasefire in place since April 8, the Islamic Republic has yet to reopen the strait to commercial vessels, which remains one of the key sticking points between Washington and Tehran. Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump held a White House cabinet meeting during which he reiterated that no nation would control the waterway, adding that the US would monitor the Strait of Hormuz. However, the future of this arterial waterway remains a major obstacle, with concerns emerging that the global economy could likely see further strain as pre-war oil reserves dwindle.
Despite the tensions, New Delhi has maintained steady sea traffic through the strait, with several vessels connected to India passing through the critical choke point.
Vessels that have sailed through the risky waterway, which is located between Iran and Oman, include Shivalik, Nanda Devi, Jag Laadki, Pine Gas, Jag Vasant, BW Tyr, BW Elm and Green Sanvi.
India is among the countries with the largest number of vessels passing through the strait.
