Strait of Hormuz Open for India: Iran has reportedly allowed India-flagged tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after talks between the two countries, with Indian vessels Pushpak and Parimal transiting safely.
Clearance is followed by a high-level discussions between India and Iran on maritime movement. According to a report by Times Now, the relief came after talks between EAM S. Jaishankar and Abbas Araghchi.
Indian tankers Pushhpak and Parimal, have safely transit the Strait of Hormuz.
First India-bound vessel
In another development, the report added that a crude tanker has reached Mumbai via Strait of Hormuz since Iran-US war.
A Liberia-flagged tanker Shenlong Suezmax carrying Saudi crude has reached Mumbai Port, becoming the first India-bound vessel to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since the Iran-US conflict began.
The tanker had loaded crude from Ras Tanura port in Saudi Arabia on March 1 and departed on March 3.
Maritime tracking data showed the vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on March 8 before it temporarily went off tracking systems.
The tanker reportedly switched off its AIS transponder while navigating the high-risk stretch of the strait and reappeared on tracking systems on March 9.
The vessel reached Mumbai Port at 1 pm on Wednesday and was berthed at Jawahar Dweep at 6:06 pm. It is carrying 1,35,335 metric tonnes of crude oil, which will be supplied to refineries in Mahul, eastern Mumbai.
The ship has 29 crew members including Indian, Pakistani and Filipino nationals, and is captained by an Indian. The crude discharge process is expected to take around 36 hours.
The tanker is owned by Shenlong Shipping Ltd and managed by Dynacom Tanker Management Ltd of Athens.
Crude Oil Price Today
The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, topped $100 a barrel early Thursday, just days after it spiked near $120 in the latest jolts to financial markets and the global economy as a whole.
Oil prices shot more than 9% higher as supply concerns worsened with Iranian attacks on commercial shipping around the Strait of Hormuz.
US benchmark crude oil jumped to about $94 a barrel.
Iran has escalated its attacks aimed at generating enough global economic pain to pressure the United States and Israel to end the war that started 12 days ago. But there were no signs that the conflict was subsiding.
Strait of Hormuz News
Meanwhile, earlier the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Naval Force has said that vessel seeking to sail through the Strait of Hormuz must obtain Iran’s approval; otherwise, it could become a target of Iranian attacks.
Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said that two ships that had ignored Iran’s warnings were targeted in the Strait on Wednesday.
“Were the ships assured of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz? This should be asked of the crews of the vessels Express Rome and Mayuree Naree, who today, trusting in empty promises, ignored the warnings and intended to cross the Strait, but were caught. Any vessel intending to pass must obtain permission from Iran,” the Iranian general said in a post on X.
According to Iranian state media, Iran has intensified its restrictions on the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing US-Israeli strikes. Iran says vessels not serving the interests of the United States and Israel can sail through safely.
More than 20 million barrels of crude oil pass daily through the narrow channel separating the Iranian coast from Oman. That volume represents roughly a fifth of global oil consumption and nearly a quarter of all seaborne oil trade.
A significant share of the world’s liquefied natural gas also moves through the same passage. When that flow falters even briefly, the consequences cascade across financial markets, supply chains and household budgets around the world.
