Iranian lawmaker: "Vessels from 4 countries excluded from Hormuz transit restrictions"

Iranian parliament national security committee vice-chair Amir Hayat-Moghaddam said vessels from India, China, Iraq and Qatar are exempt from restrictions on transiting the Strait of Hormuz, though the remarks clarify exceptions for those four countries rather than a full reopening of the waterway. He said Indian ships are allowed through to support Iran's pharmaceutical imports from India, while the Chinese exemption is aimed at securing Beijing's political backing. The statement matters because the Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important oil chokepoint, and any limits on transit risk disrupting crude flows and global energy prices. Watch whether the exemptions are formalized and whether other flag carriers, including U.S.-linked vessels, are granted passage or left exposed to the restrictions.