Tehran: Iran has eased strict restrictions on ships from India, China, Iraq and Qatar transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to Amir Hayat Mukaddam, deputy chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee. He said the four countries are currently exempt from the transit restrictions and their vessels can move without obstruction, adding that the decision was taken to protect Iran's own interests.

Mukaddam said the exemption for Indian ships aims to facilitate the import of medicines from India, while the relief for China is intended to secure political support from Beijing. He added that a transit fee will be levied on Indian and Chinese vessels, while Qatar will have a free passage.

The Strait of Hormuz is critical to India's energy security, with about 90 percent of India's LPG imports and a large share of its LNG and fertiliser shipments passing through the route. Official figures show 15 Indian sailors have been killed so far in the unrest in West Asia and attacks on vessels, including the most recent incident on November 2 when an Indian seafarer died after the MSV Al JusuFi was attacked off the coast of Oman.

Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on March 2 following US-Israeli strikes on February 28. A ceasefire took hold in April, but tensions escalated again around July. The strait, which connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world's key oil and gas transit routes.

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