Three India-flagged ships cross Strait of Hormuz, safe passage secured, says Sonowal
Three India-flagged ships successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz amid Iran's announcement of tighter controls and escalating closure fears
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is closely monitoring the situation given India's deep dependence on Gulf energy and commodity imports
Iran declared the strait "closed" starting March 2026 in response to a US naval blockade of Iranian ports; enforcement was partial and inconsistent — initially allowing ships from "friendly" countries (India, Pakistan, Türkiye, China) to transit
Two Indian-flagged vessels were fired upon on 18 April 2026 when Iran extended its closure to all foreign-flagged shipping; India summoned the Iranian ambassador to demand an explanation
Tanker traffic through the strait dropped by approximately 70% at the height of the crisis, with over 150 ships anchoring outside the strait
India's energy security and food security (fertiliser imports) are both directly exposed to Hormuz disruptions
The Strait of Hormuz — Global Chokepoint
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, connecting to the Arabian Sea. It is the world's most critical maritime chokepoint for energy trade.
Key Details
- Location: Between Iran (north) and Oman/UAE (south); narrowest point is ~33 km wide
- Approximately 20–21 million barrels of oil and petroleum products transit daily — about 20–21% of global oil consumption
- Also carries significant LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) volumes from Qatar (world's second-largest LNG exporter)
- There is no viable large-scale pipeline alternative that can absorb the full volume — existing bypass pipelines (Petroline/Saudi East-West, Abu Dhabi's ADCOP) cover partial volumes only
- UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) recognises the right of "transit passage" through international straits used for international navigation (Article 37–44); coastal states cannot suspend this right
Iran's declaration of closure challenges the UNCLOS right of transit passage; the targeting of Indian-flagged ships illustrates the vulnerability of India's energy supply chain to geopolitical conflict in the Gulf.
India's Energy and Economic Dependence on the Gulf
India's strategic and economic exposure to the Gulf region extends well beyond oil — it encompasses fertilisers, remittances, and diaspora welfare.
Key Details
- India imports approximately 85% of its crude oil requirements; the Gulf (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Iran) supplies the majority of this
- Crude oil is India's single largest import by value
- Fertiliser imports: India imports the majority of its potash (MOP) and significant urea/DAP volumes via Gulf-connected shipping routes; disruption to these directly threatens the agricultural input supply chain
- Indian diaspora in Gulf countries: ~8.9 million (the largest Indian diaspora concentration globally); remittances from the Gulf form a significant share of India's ~$120 billion annual remittance inflow
- India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR): Three underground caverns at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, and Padur (total capacity: ~5.33 million metric tonnes, covering ~9.5 days of consumption) — insufficient buffer for a prolonged closure
The Strait of Hormuz crisis exposes a structural vulnerability in India's energy security architecture; expanding SPR capacity and diversifying oil import sources (US, Latin America, Russia) are strategic imperatives that this episode underlines.
Freedom of Navigation and International Maritime Law
The legal framework governing passage through international straits is defined by UNCLOS 1982, to which India is a signatory.
Key Details
- UNCLOS Part III (Articles 34–45): Governs transit passage through straits used for international navigation; all ships (commercial and military) enjoy the right of unimpeded transit passage
- Non-suspendable right: Unlike innocent passage through territorial seas (which can be suspended), transit passage cannot be suspended even by the coastal state
- Iran is a signatory to UNCLOS; Iran's "closure" therefore violates UNCLOS obligations
- IMO (International Maritime Organization): The UN specialised agency for shipping; sets safety and environmental standards; its Maritime Safety Committee issues navigational warnings and guidance during conflicts
- International law of armed conflict at sea: Governed by the 1994 San Remo Manual (non-binding but authoritative)
India's diplomatic summons of the Iranian ambassador and monitoring by the shipping ministry reflect an attempt to enforce freedom of navigation rights through diplomatic channels while managing economic exposure.
India-Iran Relations and Strategic Balancing
India has a complex, multi-layered relationship with Iran that includes strategic, energy, and connectivity dimensions — making the Hormuz crisis a delicate balancing act.
Key Details
- Chabahar Port (Iran): India has invested in and operates the Shahid Beheshti terminal; it is India's gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing Pakistan; the crisis directly threatens this connectivity corridor
- Chabahar is exempt from US sanctions (a specific US waiver granted to India)
- India-Iran trade covers crude oil (India was Iran's second-largest crude buyer before US sanctions in 2018), petrochemicals, and agricultural products
- India's approach: Strategic autonomy — India has not joined Western sanctions on Iran but also does not endorse Iranian actions against shipping
- Iran is a key node in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC): Sea (India) → Iran → Russia → Central Asia
India's ability to secure safe passage for its ships reflects its historical relationship with Iran and its policy of non-alignment in the Iran-US conflict — but the April incidents show this leverage has limits.
India's Shipping and Maritime Infrastructure
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways oversees India's maritime sector under the Merchant Shipping Act 1958 and the Major Port Authorities Act 2021.
Key Details
- India has 13 major ports (now governed by Port Authorities as per Major Port Authorities Act 2021) and approximately 212 non-major ports
- India's shipping fleet: India-flagged vessels are relatively small as a share of global tonnage; most cargo is carried on foreign-flagged ships
- Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) under the Ministry is the regulatory body for maritime affairs, including vessel registration and seafarer certification
- India's National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC): Oversees maritime domain awareness and inter-agency coordination for maritime security
The monitoring role of the Ministry of Ports during the Hormuz crisis highlights the importance of maritime domain awareness and the need to build India's own flag-carrier fleet to reduce dependence on foreign-flagged vessels.
- Strait of Hormuz daily oil transit: ~20–21 million barrels (~20% of global supply)
- Strait width at narrowest point: ~33 km
- India crude oil import dependency: ~85% of requirements
- India Strategic Petroleum Reserve capacity: ~5.33 million MT (~9.5 days of consumption); sites: Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, Padur
- India's annual remittances: ~$120 billion (Gulf is the largest source)
- Indian diaspora in Gulf: ~8.9 million
- UNCLOS transit passage: Articles 37–44 (non-suspendable right through international straits)
- Chabahar Port: India-operated Shahid Beheshti terminal; gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia
- INSTC: International North-South Transport Corridor (India-Iran-Russia-Central Asia)
- Iran declared Strait closure: March 2026 (in response to US naval blockade)
- Indian-flagged ships fired upon: 18 April 2026 (India summoned Iranian ambassador)
- Tanker traffic drop at peak crisis: ~70%
- Ships anchored outside strait: 150+
- India's major ports: 13 (under Major Port Authorities Act 2021)
- Merchant Shipping Act: 1958 (primary legislation for Indian shipping)