Five vessels bound for Indian ports have already cleared the IRGC-controlled corridor, but New Delhi insists no toll can be legally imposed on an international waterway under global maritime law.
A satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz | Reuters/ANI
Iran has said ships linked to India and four other countries will continue to move through the Strait of Hormuz, even as access to the vital sea route remains restricted for others amid the deepening West Asia crisis.
Speaking to Iranian state media, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said vessels from India, China, Russia, Pakistan, and Iraq have been allowed to transit the strait. He stressed that Tehran is not enforcing a complete shutdown, but is selectively permitting passage for what it calls “friendly” nations.
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“There is no reason to allow the enemy to pass through the strait. We have permitted certain countries that we consider friendly to pass through; we allowed China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan to transit,” Iran’s official news agency quoted Araghchi as saying.
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Iran has also said that “non-hostile vessels” may pass, provided they comply with its security rules and coordinate with its authorities.
On March 25, the Iranian mission in New York said in a post on X: “Non-hostile vessels, including those belonging to or associated with other States, may, provided that they neither participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran and fully comply with the declared safety and security regulations, benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities.”
This signals a shift in how the chokepoint is being controlled. While Iran has stopped short of a full blockade, it is tightening its grip over one of the world’s busiest energy corridors.
A report by shipping publication Lloyd’s List, cited by news agency ANI, suggests Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is effectively running a tightly controlled passage system. Ships are required to submit documents, obtain clearance codes, and move through a designated corridor under escort.
Data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence indicates that since mid-March, vessels have largely avoided traditional routes and are instead following pre-approved paths cleared by Iranian authorities.
On Tuesday, India pushed back against reports that Iran is charging vessels to pass through the strait. The Shipping Ministry said such claims have no legal basis.
Special Secretary in the Ministry of Shipping, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, said the Strait of Hormuz is governed by international law, which guarantees freedom of navigation and does not allow any country to impose fees.
“Regarding the question about toll or levy while crossing the Strait of Hormuz. As you would know, this is an international strait, and as per international convention, it has the right of freedom of navigation and no levy fee can be imposed on it as per international regulation. Therefore, any fact presented by anyone, any argument made by anyone has no basis. It is baseless. This is a baseless argument,” he said.
Despite the tensions, at least five ships bound for India have safely crossed the strait in recent days, with two – Jag Vasant and Pine Gas – expected to reach port soon.
The United Nations has expressed concern over the situation, warning that disruptions in Hormuz could hit global supplies of oil, gas and fertilisers.
“The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz is choking the movement of oil, gas, & fertilizer at a critical moment in the global planting season. Across the region & beyond, civilians are enduring serious harm & living under profound insecurity. The UN is working to minimise the consequences of the war. And the best way to minimise those consequences is clear: End the war – immediately,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
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