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Iran has exempted ships from India, China, Iraq and Qatar from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, Amir Hayat Moqaddam, deputy chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said Tuesday, according to Anadolu Agency.
Speaking to the Iranian Students’ News Agency, Hayat Moqaddam said vessels from the four countries were 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.
Hayat Moqaddam said the exemptions reflected mutual interests between Iran and the countries involved. Tehran was facilitating the passage of Indian ships to enable Iran to import medicines from India, he said.
The exemption for Chinese vessels was intended to secure Beijing’s political support, he added.
Iran collected transit fees from Indian and Chinese ships, while Qatari vessels were allowed to pass without charge, Hayat Moqaddam said. He did not say whether Iraqi ships had to pay fees.
The Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, carrying large volumes of oil and gas from Gulf countries to international markets.
The US and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28, 2026. A ceasefire was reached in April, but fighting between Washington and Tehran resumed in July as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict stalled.
