In a significant easing of regional energy tensions, two more Indian-bound LPG tankers successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. This movement follows an official assurance from Tehran that India, alongside four other "friendly nations," would be granted safe passage through the volatile waterway despite the ongoing conflict.
Shipping data confirms that the vessels, BW ELM and BW TYR, have cleared the high-risk corridor — which has been effectively under blockade since the outbreak of hostilities — and are now making their way into the Gulf of Oman. The two India-flagged tankers are carrying upwards of 90,000 tonnes of cooking gas and maintained a steady speed of roughly 27 km/h as they exited the Gulf in close formation.
While the progress is encouraging, the bottleneck remains important. Around five more Indian tankers, primarily laden with crude oil, continue to sit at anchor near the United Arab Emirates awaiting their turn to pass. In total, approximately 20 Indian-flagged ships remain stranded within the region. According to reports, India has also begun the process of loading LPG onto empty vessels currently stuck in the area to maximise the utility of the opening.
The shift in policy was articulated by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who clarified Tehran’s stance on the world’s most vital oil chokepoint. Speaking on state television, Araghchi named China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan as the five nations permitted to move their ships safely. However, he coupled this concession with a stern warning that any vessels linked to Iran's "enemies" would remain subject to the blockade.
Since the conflict ignited a month ago, only a handful of Indian ships, including the Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, had managed the crossing. Analysts noted that these earlier vessels took a conspicuous and unusual route between Iran's Larak and Qeshm islands, likely a deliberate move to ensure their identity was unmistakable to Iranian naval authorities.
For New Delhi, this diplomatic clearance provides a vital lifeline. India relies on imports for 90% of its energy requirements, with half of those supplies typically transitioning through the Strait of Hormuz. The recent strangulation of maritime traffic had already begun to bite at home; a sharp squeeze on cooking gas supplies triggered panic-buying among households and forced numerous restaurants to either trim their menus or shut their doors entirely. With the tankers now moving again, the domestic supply crisis is expected to stabilise over the coming weeks.
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