The arrangement was disclosed by Amir Hayat Moqaddam, deputy chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, in an interview with the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) on Tuesday.
"We have currently exempted India, China, Iraq and Qatar from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. Ships from these countries pass freely, and the Americans do not intercept them either," Moqaddam said, according to local media reports.
The exemption comes as the strategic waterway remains caught up in tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Tehran appears to be using access to the strait as a means of strengthening economic and diplomatic ties with selected countries, while restrictions on other vessels remain in place.
Iran links exemptions to strategic interests
Moqaddam indicated that the decision to allow vessels from the four countries to transit freely was connected to Iran’s interests with them.
According to local media reports, Tehran’s arrangement with India is partly linked to its requirement for essential medicines.
International sanctions and the ongoing conflict have made it difficult for Iran to access certain markets and financial channels.
India’s large pharmaceutical manufacturing industry makes it an important potential source of medicines and medical products for Iran.
Allowing Indian vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz could help facilitate the movement of essential supplies between the two countries.
China’s exemption appears to have a different strategic consideration.
Moqaddam said the arrangement was intended to secure Beijing’s support.
China remains an important economic and diplomatic partner for Tehran, particularly in trade and energy.
Its backing is significant for Iran as it faces mounting pressure from Washington and its allies.
The exemptions for India, China, Iraq and Qatar indicate that Tehran is treating access to the waterway as part of its wider economic and diplomatic calculations.
Why Strait of Hormuz matters to India
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime passage between Iran and Oman that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
It is among the world's most important shipping chokepoints, providing a vital route for oil and gas exports from Gulf producers to international markets.
For India, the waterway is particularly important because a substantial share of its crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports passes through the strait.
Before the 2026 conflict, approximately 45 percent of India’s crude oil imports and nearly 90 percent of its imported LPG travelled through the route, according to the Union Petroleum Ministry.
India also depends heavily on the Strait of Hormuz for LNG supplies.
The International Energy Agency estimated that nearly two-thirds of the country’s LNG imports came through the waterway in 2025, largely from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Any disruption to commercial shipping through the passage can therefore have implications for India’s energy supply chains.
Conflict makes shipping uncertain
The security situation around the Strait of Hormuz has become increasingly uncertain since the outbreak of the regional conflict.
The United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, 2026, triggering a wider confrontation across the region.
A ceasefire was reached in April, but fighting between Washington and Tehran resumed in July after diplomatic efforts to end the conflict stalled.
The renewed hostilities have added uncertainty to commercial shipping through the strategic passage, which handles a substantial volume of global energy trade.
Against this backdrop, Iran’s decision to exempt vessels from India and three other countries from transit restrictions could provide some relief to their maritime operations.