Iran allows two gas tankers to sail to India through Hormuz: Report

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have all but closed the Strait of Hormuz, which borders Iran and through which 20 percent of global oil supplies pass.

• Iran permits two Indian LPG ships to pass through Strait of Hormuz
• India granted safe passage in vital shipping lanes by Iran
• Three Indian ships with 76 sailors stuck east of the Strait

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Iran has allowed two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers to sail through the Strait of Hormuz, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter told news agency Reuters on Friday.

A crude tanker is expected to arrive in India on Saturday carrying Saudi Arabian oil after sailing through the Strait around March 1, according to two of Reuters' sources and data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence.

This comes soon after Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, indicated on Friday that India will be granted safe passage through the vital shipping lanes of Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to reporters, Fathali had stated that developments ensuring India’s access through the strategic corridor could emerge "very soon".

When asked directly whether India would receive safe passage, he responded: “Yes, because India is our friend. You will see it within two or three hours.”

Earlier in the day, Rajesh Kumar Sinha — Special Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, had informed during a press briefing that there are 24 Indian-flagged vessels to the west of the Strait of Hormuz. He said there are three Indian-flagged vessels to the east of the Strait of Hormuz.

Sinha said that several Indian vessels remained stranded near the strategic waterway. "Three vessels remain stuck at the east side, they have 76 Indian sailors onboard," he said.

Officials said four Indian flagged vessels had been located east of the strait in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, but one of them, Jag Prakash, has now set sail.

Jag Prakash,  the Indian flagged oil tanker is carrying gasoline from Oman to Tanzania, departed from the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz. Ship tracking data from Kpler indicates that Jag Prakash is scheduled to discharge the gasoline loaded at Sohar Port in Oman at Tanga Port in Tanzania on March 21.