Iran lets Indian, Chinese, Qatari and Iraqi ships sail freely through Hormuz

Iran has announced that ships from India, China, Qatar and Iraq can cross the Strait of Hormuz without interference, even as the United States maintains a naval blockade, senior Iranian parliamentarian Amir Hayat Moqaddam told the Iranian Students’ News Agency, and Al Jazeera reported.

Why did Iran grant exemptions to these four countries?

Iran says the exemptions secure medicine from India, political backing from China and diplomatic support from Qatar, which is mediating the US‑Israel conflict, according to Moqaddam as cited by Al Jazeera. Analysts quoted by Al Jazeera note that Iran has long used barter and quid‑pro‑quo trade to bypass sanctions, and the current move is designed to “poke holes in an embargo” and keep essential goods flowing.

What economic benefits does Tehran expect?

Tehran plans to levy transit fees on Indian and Chinese vessels while allowing Qatari ships to pass free of charge, Al Jazeera said; the fee structure for Iraqi ships was not disclosed. The move could generate significant revenue because China purchases nearly 90 % of Iran’s oil exports, and in October about 42 % of the 10.23 million barrels per day of Gulf crude moving through Hormuz went to China, with 13 % destined for India, Al Jazeera reported.

How might the exemptions affect the US blockade and regional politics?

US Central Command maintains that its blockade covers all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, but humanitarian shipments may be inspected and allowed, Al Jazeera noted. Security analysts told Al Jazeera that if the exemptions prove effective, they could undermine the blockade’s impact and pressure Washington to adjust its stance, while also exposing the exempted ships to risks, as illustrated by the October 30 incident when the Qatari LNG carrier Al Mayeda was struck by unidentified objects. The exemptions therefore carry both economic upside and political danger for the four nations, according to Al Jazeera.