More Than Diplomacy: Why Indian Tankers Were Allowed To Pass Through Strait Of Hormuz

Last Updated:March 13, 2026, 13:17 IST

In fact, India is also in touch with Iran to ensure safe passage of eight LPG tankers.

Two Indian oil tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday amid the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, and disruptions to shipping. The tankers were reported to be “Pushpak" and “Parimal."

Both vessels were said to have transited the strait safely after diplomatic talks between India and Iran about ensuring safe maritime movement. This development came as a relief for India because a large portion of its crude oil imports travels through the Strait of Hormuz, which has seen severe disruptions due to the ongoing war and attacks on commercial shipping.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has sharply declined as many international tankers and cargo ships are avoiding the route after a series of attacks and warnings from Iran that vessels linked to its adversaries could be targeted. Iranian officials and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have repeatedly warned that the waterway could be effectively closed, with statements indicating that ships attempting to cross despite warnings “will not be guaranteed safe passage." In recent days, several vessels have been struck or damaged, underscoring the risks. The Thailand-flagged bulk carrier MV Mayuree Naree caught fire after being hit by projectiles near the strait, leaving crew members missing, while other ships such as the cargo vessel ONE Majesty and the tanker Star Gwyneth were also damaged in attacks during the latest wave of maritime strikes. Meanwhile, two fuel tankers — Safesea Vishnu and Zefyros — were hit by explosive-laden boats near Iraqi waters, part of a broader pattern of assaults that has already forced many shipping companies to halt or reroute traffic through the strategic oil corridor.

However, with Indian diplomacy at work and other factors of the Iran-India relationship at play, India-flagged ships are being allowed through the now sensitive Strait of Hormuz. Here’s why:

India’s diplomatic outreach

As tensions in the Gulf intensified, India moved quickly on the diplomatic front to ensure its oil supply lines were not caught in the crossfire. External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar reached out directly to Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with both sides discussing the safety of commercial shipping in the region.

Indian officials conveyed that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz would not only hit global energy markets but also affect countries like India that depend heavily on oil passing through the narrow waterway. The message from New Delhi was straightforward: Indian vessels were carrying out routine commercial trade and should not become casualties of a larger geopolitical confrontation. Tehran appears to have acknowledged that concern.

Allowing Indian tankers to pass safely helped Iran show that its maritime pressure is directed mainly at its adversaries, not at countries that have kept diplomatic channels open even during difficult times.

In fact, India is also in touch with Iran to ensure safe passage of eight LPG tankers. According to sources, eight LPG tankers are currently waiting just outside the Strait of Hormuz, unable to proceed due to the tense security situation in the region. The Indian government is in touch with Iranian authorities to help facilitate the safe movement of these vessels.

Sources say Tehran has been cooperative in the discussions and is also mindful of the situation of its own sailors currently in India. Around 250 Iranian sailors are presently in the country, awaiting arrangements to return home. Indian authorities have provided them temporary accommodation and assistance while efforts are underway to organise their repatriation.

Working Ties With Both Sides

One reason India has been able to navigate the crisis with some diplomatic room is that it has maintained working relationships with all sides involved. Unlike many Western countries that have had long periods of strained or frozen ties with Tehran, India has kept communication channels with Iran open even during difficult phases marked by sanctions and regional tensions. Over the years, New Delhi has tried to strike a careful balance — building strong partnerships with countries such as the United States and Israel while also continuing dialogue and cooperation with Iran. This approach does not mean India agrees with every position taken by these countries, but it allows New Delhi to speak to each side when tensions rise and try to protect its strategic interests.

A key example of this long-term engagement is India’s involvement in Chabahar Port in southeastern Iran. The port is seen by both countries as more than just a commercial project. For India, it provides a crucial trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia that bypasses Pakistan. For Iran, the project represents a lasting partnership with a major Asian economy at a time when many Western companies pulled back because of sanctions. Because of this history of cooperation, the relationship carries a certain level of trust, which can become important in moments of crisis — such as the current tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, where diplomatic understanding can help ensure that commercial shipping and energy supplies continue to move despite the wider conflict.

Iran Needs To Keep Oil Flowing

Another factor shaping Iran’s approach is the importance of large energy buyers like India. For years, India was among the biggest importers of Iranian crude oil, at times purchasing hundreds of thousands of barrels per day. Even after sanctions linked to Iran’s nuclear programme sharply reduced those purchases, the commercial relationship never fully disappeared from strategic thinking in Tehran. Indian refiners had invested time and infrastructure to process Iranian grades of crude, and before restrictions tightened, the trade had become a steady pillar of the bilateral relationship.

Because of this history, Iran still sees India as a significant long-term energy partner and a major market it would not want to lose permanently. In a period when Tehran is already facing economic pressure and limited export avenues, alienating one of Asia’s largest energy consumers would make little strategic sense. Allowing Indian-linked vessels to move through the Strait of Hormuz therefore sends a subtle signal: while Iran may be willing to exert pressure on its adversaries during the crisis, it is trying to avoid pushing away countries that could remain important trade partners in the future.

Why It Matters For India

Around 20–25 per cent of the world’s oil trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and a large share of India’s crude imports comes through this route. Even a partial disruption can quickly affect shipping costs, insurance premiums, and domestic fuel prices.

Allowing two Indian tankers — Pushpak and Parimal — to cross safely, therefore, became a significant diplomatic and energy-security signal amid the ongoing war.

Why Tankers From Many Other Countries Are Not Being Able To Cross Hormuz?

Many tankers from other countries have been unable — or unwilling — to pass through the Strait of Hormuz because of rising fears of being caught in the escalating conflict. Iran has warned that ships linked to its adversaries could become targets if tensions continue to rise. Officials from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have also said that vessels connected to countries backing military action against Iran may not be guaranteed safe passage through the waterway. That warning has made shipping companies extremely cautious.

After several recent attacks on commercial vessels near the strait, many operators have decided to delay their voyages or reroute ships altogether rather than risk sailing through the narrow corridor. Insurance costs have also surged, making the route even less attractive.

As a result, traffic through the strait has dropped sharply, with several tankers from Western-linked fleets choosing to wait outside the area instead of attempting the crossing.

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