Iran allows Indian ships to pass through Strait of Hormuz, grants exemptions to 3 other nations

Tehran: Iran on Tuesday once again said that Indian ships have been granted exemptions from restrictions to enter the Strait of Hormuz. It said that apart from India, vessels from Iraq, Qatar and China have also been granted exemptions.

Speaking at a review meeting, Ahmad Hayat-Moghaddam, Vice Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said that limitations to these countries have been granted without limitations.

“Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, we have already ‘pardoned’ four countries. Right now, India, China, Iraq, and Qatar. They are free, meaning they are free from our point of view. The Americans also have no issues with them,” he said as per news agency ANI.

Moghaddam added, “They go back and forth through the Strait of Hormuz. Well, we are doing business, right? We have done this for the Indians so that we can import medicine, so we can import medicine. We have done this for the Chinese so that we can have political support from them, although we also take money from them. We also take money, I mean, we take their money.”

What Iran’s internal assessments suggest?

As per Al Arabiya, Iran’s internal assessments have suggested that resumption of direct war with the US is the most likely scenario. This even as top experts in the country have repeatedly called for a diplomatic resolution with the US.

Notably, the top Iranian leadership has repeatedly advised the army to engage constructively with a proposal suggested by Qatar to halt the conflict, the media house said. It added that envoys from Qatar recently visited Tehran with a strict mandate. Even as political leaders push for a diplomatic path, military strategists remain sceptical of maintaining peace.