File Photo: Liberia-flagged tanker Shenlong Suezmax, carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia, that arrived clearing the Strait of Hormuz, is seen at the Mumbai Port in Mumbai, India. AP
“They crossed the Strait of Hormuz early morning safely and are en route to India,” said Rajesh Kumar Sinha, India’s special secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.
This marks a rare exception after Iran effectively blocked traffic through the key oil route following the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran and Tehran's retaliation against US assets in neighboring Gulf countries.
The tankers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, are expected to arrive in the next couple of days, according to the Associated Press.
The safe passage of the two Indian vessels followed recent talks between New Delhi and Tehran. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar posted on social media earlier this week that he held talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.
Earlier on Saturday, Araghchi addressed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz in an interview with MS Now (formerly MSNBC), saying, “It is only closed to the tankers and ships belonging to our enemies, to those who are attacking us and their allies.”
Despite this, nearly all shipping continues to avoid the Strait of Hormuz due to security concerns.
In response to the closure of the vital waterway, US President Donald Trump suggested that other countries may provide military support to reopen the Strait.
While spending Saturday morning at his golf club in Florida, Trump posted on social media: “Many countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending warships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe.”
However, it was unclear whether this effort was imminent, as Trump also wrote, “Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected, will send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be threatened by Iran.”
This marks the first time Trump has suggested that the US may not be able to reopen the waterway alone and may require international support.
Iran has used the effective closure of the Strait to disrupt global energy markets and exert pressure on the United States and Israel.
Short link: