Iran Makes A Big Move After US Voters Rebuke Trump, Grants Significant Concessions To These Countries

New Delhi: President Donald Trump and his Republican Party have suffered a major setback in the US midterm elections. The Democrats have regained control of the US Parliament (Congress). Meanwhile, Iran, which is engaged in a fierce confrontation with the US, has made a major move. Iran has exempted ships from India, China, Iraq and Qatar from the restrictions related to the Strait of Hormuz. Amir Hayat-Moghaddam, Deputy Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Parliament, said that ships from these four countries can now pass through this important waterway without any hindrance and the US also does not stop them.

In an interview with the Iranian Students News Agency, Hayat-Moghaddam said, "We have currently exempted India, China, Iraq, and Qatar from the restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Ships from these countries can travel freely, and the Americans do not stop them." He explained that the purpose of this exemption is to strengthen Iran's interests with these countries. Speaking in Persian, he said that Iran is facilitating the passage of Indian ships to import medicines from India, while the exemption granted to Chinese ships is aimed at gaining China's political support.

Indian ships pay transit fees

Hayat-Moghaddam explained that Iran charges transit fees from Indian and Chinese ships, while Qatari ships are allowed to pass through without any fees. However, he did not clarify whether Iraqi ships are required to pay transit fees. India imports approximately 90% of its crude oil needs, and currently, about 30% of this import comes through the Strait of Hormuz. Previously, 70% of India's crude oil imports came through this route, but this dependence has now decreased. This is because, since the conflict in West Asia began, India has diversified its import sources by purchasing oil from Russia, the United States, West Africa, and Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

90% of India's LPG imports come from Hormuz

However, 90% of India's LPG imports still pass through the Strait of Hormuz. More than 50% of LNG imports from Qatar and the UAE also pass through this waterway. This waterway is also crucial for India's fertilizer imports. Following Iran's decision to close the Strait of Hormuz and restrict the movement of merchant vessels, India has repeatedly demanded the unhindered movement of energy supplies and freedom of navigation in international waterways. The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, carries approximately 25% of global seaborne oil supplies from West Asian countries.

24 Indians have been killed so far

Hayat-Moghaddam's comments came in the context of ongoing restrictions on the movement of ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The European Union (EU) says that the navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has implemented a system under which ships must identify themselves and provide information about their cargo and destination to pass through there. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), at least 70 attacks on merchant ships took place from the start of the conflict in February till August. 19 sailors were killed in these attacks. 15 sailors are among the 24 Indians killed so far in this conflict in West Asia.