Two Indian Tankers Passed Through the Strait of Hormuz 0 11

Tehran has almost completely halted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas is typically transported.

"They safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz early in the morning and are heading to India," said Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India, at a press conference in Delhi.

The tankers "Shivalik" and "Nanda Devi", carrying about 92,700 tons of LPG, are expected to arrive in India in the next couple of days and head to the western ports of Mundra and Kandla.

Both Indian vessels safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz after negotiations between Delhi and Tehran that took place in recent days.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that he spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and discussed the transit of goods and energy resources from Gulf countries.

India also provided refuge to 183 sailors from the Iranian vessel "IRIS Lavan", which docked in the southern port of Kochi after the war began.

India is the fourth largest buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world and the second largest buyer of LPG, which is used for cooking and is primarily sourced from the Middle East.

As supplies are decreasing, Delhi on Tuesday imposed stricter controls on natural gas and cooking gas after disruptions in imports.

The Ministry of Petroleum of India stated that the new rules "will ensure fair distribution and continuous availability for priority sectors."

The ministry ruled that LNG supplies should be prioritized for households, the transport sector, and LPG production.

Indian industrial sectors, such as a number of ceramic and tile manufacturers, have already reported facing gas supply shortages, which could affect production.

Restaurants and hotels across India have also warned of possible disruptions after a separate order from the ministry prioritized LPG supplies for households on Monday.