Strait of Hormuz – In a striking diplomatic exception amid the raging conflict, Iran has allowed two Indian-flagged LPG tankers to safely transit the heavily contested Strait of Hormuz, even as it maintains a near-total blockade on most international shipping.
On March 14, 2026, the Indian LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi, carrying vital liquefied petroleum gas, successfully pᴀssed through the narrow chokepoint under special Iranian clearance. The tankers reportedly moved with Indian Navy escort, marking one of the very few successful transits since Iran began aggressively restricting traffic in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Iranian officials, including Ambᴀssador to India Mohammad Fathali, openly described the move as a gesture of friendship toward India, citing decades of strong bilateral ties. While Iranian forces continue to threaten and attack vessels linked to the U.S. and its allies, New Delhi appears to have secured a rare safe-pᴀssage arrangement through high-level diplomatic channels.
This development is critical for India, which relies heavily on imported LPG to meet domestic cooking gas demand. The country has been facing serious supply pressures due to the ongoing Hormuz crisis, making these two tankers a significant relief for millions of households and industries.
The selective allowance highlights Iran’s calculated strategy: using control over the world’s most important energy artery as both a weapon and a diplomatic tool. While most nations face disruption or outright danger, India — long viewed by Tehran as a reliable partner — has been granted this rare exemption.
Analysts see this as a significant geopolitical signal. Despite the intense U.S.-Iran war, Tehran is carefully preserving key relationships that could prove valuable if the conflict drags on. For India, the successful transit demonstrates New Delhi’s pragmatic diplomacy in a volatile region.
As fires continue to rage across the Middle East and global energy markets remain on edge, this rare pᴀssage through the Hormuz blockade offers a small but telling glimpse into the complex web of alliances and exceptions shaping the current crisis.
The message is clear: in this high-stakes war, not all ships are treated equally — and longstanding friendships still carry weight, even on a battlefield of oil and missiles.
