Iran Exempts India, China, Iraq and Qatar from Hormuz Restrictions

In an interview with the Iranian Students’ News Agency, Hayat-Moghaddam said vessels from the four countries could pass freely. He described the exemptions as serving mutual interests and said each had a separate rationale.

He said India’s exemption facilitates the movement of medicines into Iran, while China’s is intended to secure political support from Beijing. Qatar’s vessels are not charged transit tolls, he said. Hayat-Moghaddam also claimed the U.S. Navy does not interfere with the exempted ships, a circumstance that could help explain how Iranian oil and other goods continue reaching global markets despite the blockade.

The article says attacks on commercial vessels by Iran reached a record number in October, though their near-daily pace appears to have slowed. It also notes that U.S. President Donald Trump has not followed through on earlier threats to resume a major bombing campaign after the midterm elections. The possibility remains, while Democratic gains and prospective control of both the House and Senate could make renewed major conflict less likely.