Iran has granted vessels from India, China, Iraq and Qatar exemptions from restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz, allowing ships from the four countries to navigate the strategic waterway without limitations, according to a statement by an Iranian lawmaker.
Ahmad Hayat-Moghaddam, Vice Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, announced the exemptions on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, during a meeting reviewing the country’s economic and security conditions.
Hayat-Moghaddam said the exemptions were based on specific considerations and agreements with each country. He added that Iran does not impose transit tolls on Qatari vessels, while noting that the United States does not interfere with ships covered by the exemptions.
Explaining the rationale behind the arrangements, the lawmaker said India’s exemption was intended to facilitate medicine imports into Iran, while China’s was linked to securing political support from Beijing for the Islamic Republic.
“We are conducting business, and each of these exemptions has a distinct reason,” he said, adding that “the Americans do not interfere with them either.”
The exemptions introduce a differentiated transit arrangement for vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas shipments. However, the announcement does not provide details on the operational procedures, duration or specific conditions governing the exemptions.
For energy market participants, the development highlights how geopolitical considerations and bilateral agreements are shaping access to the waterway amid restrictions. It also underscores the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz to major energy-importing economies, particularly India and China.