Energy concerns ease in major relief for India as Iran opens Strait of Hormuz

The decision will allow some 15 Indian-flagged and owned merchant vessels currently to the west of the strait to transit the waterway.

Updated on: Apr 18, 2026, 07:01:50 IST

By Rezaul H Laskar

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Iran’s decision on Friday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is a welcome development for India, which depends on the waterway for almost 50% of its oil imports, especially after the widespread disruptions in energy supplies because of the West Asia conflict. Follow latest news on Iran-US war

People block the road as they protest for LPG cylinders, in Ranchi on Friday. (Photo for representation) (ANI)

The decision, which Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi will be valid for the remaining period of the Iran-US ceasefire, will allow some 15 Indian-flagged and owned merchant vessels currently to the west of the strait to transit the waterway and return to the country.

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There was no immediate response from Indian officials to the Iranian move, believed to be part of a package being worked out between Tehran and Washington as part of efforts to end the 50-day conflict that began on February 28. India’s leadership, during recent interactions with leaders of the US, Iran and West Asian countries, emphasised the importance of reopening the strait to ensure unimpeded and safe trade and transit of merchant shipping.

Iran’s decision also led to a sharp drop in the price of crude oil, a welcome development for India which watched with concern as Brent crude rose from about $70 a barrel before the conflict to $119 in late March. After Araghchi’s announcement, the price of Brent crude fell below $90 a barrel.

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US President Donald Trump said on social media that the Strait of Hormuz was fully open for passage though the US blockade of Iranian ports will remain in place until a final deal is concluded with Iran. However, Iranian officials have said transiting vessels will have to pay a toll. India has insisted in recent days that there have been no discussions with the Iranian side on paying a fee.

While India has positioned warships in the Gulf of Oman to escort merchant vessels transiting the strait, it has given no indication of committing assets for any possible multilateral force to secure the region.

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The Indian government has focused in recent days on shoring up energy supplies from West Asia, despatching external affairs minister S Jaishankar and petroleum minister Hardeep Puri to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, respectively, to ensure uninterrupted supply of oil and gas. People familiar with the matter said these efforts are expected to continue even after the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, especially to assess the implications of damage caused to energy infrastructure in the region and to ensure that the enforcement of force majeure clauses by energy suppliers doesn’t impact India.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rezaul H Laskar
Rezaul Hasan Laskar is Foreign Editor with the Hindustan Times, which he joined in 2015. He began as a journalist in his hometown of Shillong in northeast India and has worked in newspapers and wire services over the years. He moved to New Delhi in 1997 and initially focused on defence, national security, Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, while also working of foreign policy and international relations. He has been part of the media delegation accompanying PMs on foreign visits and has reported from destinations ranging from Tibet to Ukraine. Between 2007 and 2013, he was the Press Trust of India correspondent in Pakistan, one of only two Indian journalists allowed to report from the country. He extensively covered Pakistan’s domestic politics and the life of the common people, as well as the fallout of the 2008 Mumbai attacks on India-Pakistan relations and the subsequent trial in Pakistan of the suspects involved in the attack. As part of his reportage in Pakistan, he travelled the breadth of the country, from the Swat Valley to Balochistan. Reza’s first gig in journalism was writing a weekly music column, and music – especially classic rock – remains a keen interest. He is also a movie buff and a keen photographer.Read More

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