The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Tuesday said 11 India-bound vessels have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between United States and Iran on June 17.
"We have 10 Indian flagged vessels still in the Persian Gulf region. In addition, we have two Indian ships which have crossed from this side into the Persian Gulf. Since the signing of the MoU on June 17, eleven Indian bound vessels have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, " said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
"The vessels include three India flagged crude oil tankers, each carrying 2,85,000 metric tons of crude oil, one foreign flag LPG carrier, one foreign flag crude oil tanker, and six foreign flag bulk carriers carrying fertilizer, and it is our expectation and hope that the remaining Indian flag vessels, of which the number of which I just gave you, would also be able to cross the order soon," Jaiswal added while addressing a press briefing.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is considered the world's most important oil transit chokepoint. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and serves as a key route for crude oil exports from major Gulf producers, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE and Iran.
Recently, the Iran-US war and restrictions on shipping through the Strait disrupted oil flows, triggering concerns over global energy supplies and contributing to volatility in crude prices.
The United States on last Thursday lifted its blockade of Iran, allowing oil tankers to move through the Strait of Hormuz as a tentative agreement to end the war took effect. The channel had been largely unusable for months, but shipping began to resume soon after a deal came into force.
On June 18, President Donald Trump signed an agreement with Iran that calls for Tehran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and waives US-backed sanctions on the country, immediately allowing Iran to sell its oil freely in a major concession from Washington.
