Strait of Hormuz: Iran Favours India, Snubs Pakistan

Iran’s decision to exempt Indian vessels from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz has triggered an unexpected diplomatic embarrassment for Pakistan, with Pakistani commentators and social media users questioning why their country was left out despite its much-publicised efforts to mediate between Tehran and Washington. The development highlights India’s growing strategic importance in West Asia while exposing the limitations of Islamabad’s diplomatic ambitions.

The announcement was made by Amir Hayat Moqaddam, deputy head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Iran’s parliament, during an interview with the Iranian Students News Agency on November 3. According to Moqaddam, India, China, Iraq and Qatar have been exempted from the restrictions currently imposed on maritime traffic through the strategically important waterway.

“We have currently exempted India, China, Iraq and Qatar from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. Ships from these countries pass freely, and the Americans do not intercept them either,” the Iranian lawmaker stated.

Moqaddam also indicated that the arrangements were based on mutual interests. While China’s inclusion was intended to secure Beijing’s political support, India’s exemption was linked to its capacity to supply medicines and essential medical products to Iran. He acknowledged that vessels benefiting from the arrangement would still be required to pay a transit fee, describing the arrangement as business intended to strengthen bilateral interests.

For India, the decision carries considerable economic and strategic significance. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. A substantial portion of India’s energy imports traditionally travels through this narrow passage. According to figures cited in the report, more than 45 per cent of India’s crude oil imports and nearly 90 per cent of its LPG purchases previously moved through this route. The International Energy Agency has also estimated that almost two-thirds of India’s LNG purchases in 2025 arrived through the same channel.

Consequently, uninterrupted maritime access is not merely a diplomatic convenience for New Delhi. It is directly connected to India’s energy security, industrial requirements, transportation network and household consumption. Any prolonged disruption could have consequences for fuel prices, inflation and the broader economy. The exemption therefore offers an important advantage at a time when regional tensions have made commercial shipping increasingly vulnerable.

India and Iran have also maintained diplomatic engagement despite the wider conflict. Earlier, Iranian Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali had assured that vessels destined for India would receive safe passage, emphasising the historical relationship and common interests between the two countries. India’s humanitarian cooperation has further strengthened the relationship. Recently, the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi expressed gratitude to the Indian government, Navy and Air Force for rescuing 20 Iranian sailors from pirates in the Arabian Sea.

However, the latest announcement has generated considerable frustration across Pakistan’s political and online circles. Dr Khurram Abbas, Director of the India Study Centre at Pakistan’s Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad and a columnist for Dawn, questioned why Pakistan had not been included in the exemption list despite its claimed diplomatic involvement and exposure to the energy crisis. Other Pakistani social media users similarly questioned the country’s leadership, with some demanding accountability from Federal Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi.

One Pakistani commentator expressed disbelief that Islamabad’s months of diplomatic engagement, peace initiatives and attempts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open had failed to secure comparable treatment for Pakistani vessels. The reaction reflects an uncomfortable question for Pakistan: if its mediation efforts were as influential as claimed, why did Tehran extend preferential treatment to India instead?

The controversy also revives questions about Pakistan’s widely publicised mediation initiative between Iran and the United States. Islamabad had presented its involvement as a major diplomatic achievement, seeking international recognition for its role in bringing the opposing sides to negotiations. However, the process encountered significant obstacles, with Iran expressing reservations about American proposals and ultimately refusing to participate in a subsequent round of talks hosted by Pakistan.

The negotiations also became controversial after Washington and Tehran appeared to present different interpretations of the proposed arrangements. Disagreements over ceasefire conditions, regional hostilities and Iran’s nuclear programme further complicated the diplomatic process. The subsequent ceasefire understanding reportedly failed to produce lasting stability, leaving the region exposed to renewed tensions.

Against this background, Iran’s decision concerning the Strait of Hormuz represents more than a routine shipping arrangement. It demonstrates that Tehran is willing to distinguish between countries according to its immediate economic and political interests rather than automatically rewarding diplomatic visibility.

For India, the development reinforces the importance of maintaining independent foreign policy relationships and protecting essential commercial interests amid international conflicts. New Delhi’s engagement with Tehran, alongside its wider partnerships with Gulf countries and Western powers, remains an important component of its strategic calculations.

Pakistan, meanwhile, faces an uncomfortable diplomatic reality. Its attempts to project itself as an indispensable regional mediator have not translated into the same maritime concessions granted to India. The latest controversy has exposed the gap between diplomatic publicity and tangible outcomes.

Ultimately, the ability to secure safe maritime access, protect commercial shipping and maintain reliable international partnerships matters far more than claiming diplomatic victories. India’s exemption has underlined that distinction, leaving Islamabad’s self-proclaimed role as a regional peacemaker facing fresh questions.