Iran Opens Hormuz Passage For 2 Indian Tankers Amid Escalating Regional Conflict

Amid rising tensions in West Asia and growing risks to global energy supplies, Iran has allowed two India-linked tankers to safely transit the Strait of Hormuz after diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Tehran.

The move comes at a time when the crucial maritime corridor is under severe strain due to the ongoing regional conflict, with vessels linked to the United States, Europe and Israel continuing to face restrictions.

The two vessels, Pushpak and Parimal, were able to move through the strait safely, offering a measure of relief for India as it closely watches crude oil and natural gas movement through one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints. While the ships were widely described in reports as India-flagged tankers, vessel-tracking details show both are currently sailing under foreign flags, indicating they are better understood as India-linked or India-associated vessels in the present context.

Vessel Details Show Pushpak And Parimal Are India-Linked, Not Currently Indian-Flagged

Fresh vessel-tracking details add more clarity to the identities of the two ships that transited the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict.

According to AIS data, Pushpak was last reported in the Arabian Sea around 16 hours ago and was sailing at a speed of 9.7 knots. The vessel carries IMO number 9383340 and MMSI 518100958. It is a bitumen tanker built in 2007 and is currently sailing under the flag of the Cook Islands.

Parimal was also last reported in the Arabian Sea around 17 hours ago. AIS data showed the vessel was en route to KFK OPL and moving at a speed of 0.1 knots, with an expected arrival previously listed for March 7 at 08:00. The ship carries IMO number 9308766 and MMSI 511101460. It is a chemical/oil products tanker built in 2005 and is currently sailing under the flag of Palau.

These details are significant because they suggest that while the vessels have been linked to India in operational or commercial terms, they are not presently registered under the Indian flag based on available live tracking data.

Jaishankar Raises Tanker Safety With Iran, Speaks To Global Leaders

Safe passage for the two India-linked vessels through the Strait of Hormuz was a key issue during External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar's conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi late on Tuesday. The call marked their third interaction since the Iran conflict began, underlining the urgency New Delhi is attaching to maritime security and energy stability.

Jaishankar also held telephonic discussions on Wednesday with several major global leaders, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, as India assessed the wider impact of the conflict on global security and international energy markets.

"A good telecon with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia. Shared our assessments on the West Asia conflict and related efforts. Also took stock of our bilateral cooperation agenda. @mfa_russia," Jaishankar said in a post on X.

Foreign Vessels Face Pressure As Hormuz Shipping Turns Volatile

While the safe movement of Pushpak and Parimal signals a diplomatic breakthrough for India, the broader shipping situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains highly volatile. People familiar with the matter said Iran has continued to restrict vessels associated with the US, Europe and Israel as the conflict intensifies.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but strategically critical route for global oil and gas flows, is now operating under extreme pressure. Though not fully closed for all traffic, it is effectively disrupted due to military tensions, missile threats and attacks on commercial shipping.

Analysts say Iran appears to be balancing military pressure with economic necessity, allowing selective transit while maintaining leverage over foreign-linked vessels in the region.

India-Bound Thai Bulk Carrier Hit In Separate Attack

The security threat in the waterway was highlighted further when a Thai-flagged bulk carrier heading to India came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel, Mayuree Naree, was reportedly struck by an unidentified projectile, causing part of the ship to catch fire and prompting an emergency rescue response.

The ship had departed Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates and was on its way to Kandla port in Gujarat when it was hit while passing through the narrow Gulf shipping lane.

Mayuree Naree is a 178-metre bulk carrier with a displacement of around 30,000 tonnes and is owned by Bangkok-listed transport company Precious Shipping Pcl.

The incident has added to concerns that civilian maritime traffic is becoming increasingly exposed as the Iran-US conflict spills deeper into critical commercial routes.

India Condemns Attacks As Iranian Oil Flows Continue

India's Ministry of External Affairs strongly criticised the targeting of civilian shipping, warning that the conflict is entering a more dangerous phase with rising intensity and lethality.

"India deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict in West Asia," the MEA said, adding that "the intensity and lethality of the attacks only seems to be increasing."

Despite the growing risks, tanker tracking data reviewed by Reuters suggests that Iranian crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have continued at near-normal levels. Maritime intelligence firm TankerTrackers.com estimated that Iran has exported roughly 13.7 million barrels of crude since the conflict began on February 28.

Shipping experts believe Tehran has a strong incentive to keep the waterway at least partially functional as long as its own oil exports continue to move. However, repeated attacks on foreign vessels have sharply reduced non-Iranian shipping activity through the passage, raising concerns over supply disruptions and higher global energy volatility.