Navigating the Strait, How Two Oil Tankers Ignited Hope for India’s Energy Security Amid War
As Iran Allows Passage to Non-Iranian Vessels for the First Time Since the Conflict Began, Delicate Diplomacy Bears Fruit
Amid the massive disruption in maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, two crude oil tankers—cumulatively carrying roughly 3 million barrels of West Asian oil—have arrived in India after transiting the fraught waters. This marks the first known instance of non-Iranian crude oil tankers successfully navigating the critical chokepoint since the conflict erupted on February 28, 2026.
The news, confirmed by vessel tracking data and industry sources, has ignited a cautious optimism among Indian policymakers and energy companies. For nearly two weeks, the Strait of Hormuz—the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea—had been effectively closed to most maritime traffic. Reports indicated that Iran was allowing only its own oil tankers, specifically those headed to China, to cross.
The arrival of these two tankers suggests that the diplomatic channels between New Delhi and Tehran, opened and maintained through multiple high-level conversations, may be yielding results. It is a small but significant breakthrough in a crisis that has threatened India’s energy security and exposed the vulnerability of global supply chains to regional conflict.
The Tankers and Their Cargo
One of the tankers, the Liberia-flagged Shenlong, carried approximately 1 million barrels of Saudi Arabian crude oil. A Suezmax tanker—named for its ability to transit the Suez Canal—it had set sail on March 3 from Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura port, bound for Mumbai. The vessel arrived at Mumbai port on Wednesday, where its cargo will feed the refineries of Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation located in the city’s suburbs.
The other tanker, an India-flagged very large crude carrier (VLCC), carried around 2 million barrels of crude from Iraq. It also arrived at Mumbai before proceeding to Odisha’s Paradip port, where a large Indian Oil Corporation refinery is located, as well as the new oil refinery.
Both tankers are estimated to have crossed the Strait of Hormuz sometime in the past five to six days. According to vessel tracking data, they had switched off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders—a practice known in shipping parlance as “going dark”—before crossing the strait, likely to avoid public detection and reduce the risk of interception.
The Strategic Chokepoint
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. At its narrowest, it is just 33 kilometres wide, with shipping lanes that are only a few kilometres across in each direction. Through this narrow passage flows nearly 20 per cent of the world’s oil consumption—approximately 17 million barrels per day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
For India, which imports over 80 per cent of its crude oil requirements, the strait is a lifeline. A significant portion of its imports from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates must pass through these waters. Any prolonged disruption would force India to seek alternative—and more expensive—sources, strain its foreign exchange reserves, and ultimately raise prices for consumers.
When the conflict began on February 28, vessel movements through the strait effectively came to a halt. Reports suggested that Iran was allowing only its own oil tankers—and only those headed to China—to cross. This created a crisis for Indian energy security, with numerous oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers stuck to the west of the strait, unable to proceed to their destinations.
The Diplomatic Channel
According to sources in India’s oil and gas industry, the arrival of these tankers has raised hopes that more of India’s energy supplies currently stuck in the Persian Gulf could find their way to the country in the coming days and weeks. Sources indicated that India has been engaging in talks with Iran to secure the safe passage of vessels headed to India, particularly oil and LPG tankers.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the safety of shipping and India’s energy security have come up in External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s discussions with his Iranian counterpart. “The External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Minister of Iran have had three conversations in recent days. In the last one, they discussed issues pertaining to the safety of shipping and India’s energy security. Beyond that, it would be premature for me to say anything,” Jaiswal said on Thursday.
The fact that the two oil tankers successfully transited the strait suggests that these diplomatic efforts may have borne fruit. According to sources, the tankers may have sought permission from Iran to cross, although there is no official confirmation of this. Their decision to “go dark” before crossing indicates a desire to avoid drawing attention, but it also makes it impossible to verify exactly what arrangements were made.
The China Factor
The reports that Iran was allowing only its China-bound tankers to cross the strait highlight the geopolitical complexities of the situation. China is Iran’s largest trading partner and a key buyer of Iranian oil, despite U.S. sanctions. The relationship between Tehran and Beijing has deepened in recent years, with China providing economic support and diplomatic cover for Iran.
For India, this creates a delicate balancing act. New Delhi has historically maintained good relations with Iran, but it also has growing strategic partnerships with the United States and Israel—both of which are opposed to Iran’s regional ambitions. Navigating these competing relationships requires careful diplomacy and a clear-eyed understanding of India’s interests.
The success in securing passage for these two tankers suggests that India’s diplomatic approach—engaging directly with Tehran while maintaining its broader strategic relationships—may be working. But the situation remains fragile, and each new shipment will require renewed efforts.
The Broader Implications
The arrival of these tankers is not just about oil. It is about India’s ability to protect its national interests in a time of regional crisis. It demonstrates that diplomatic engagement, even with adversaries of one’s partners, can yield practical results. It shows that India’s growing strategic weight gives it leverage that smaller nations lack.
But it also exposes the vulnerability inherent in dependence on a single chokepoint. The Strait of Hormuz will remain a point of vulnerability for as long as India relies heavily on West Asian oil. Diversification of energy sources—through increased domestic production, renewable energy, nuclear power, and imports from other regions—is not just an economic strategy but a national security imperative.
The crisis has also highlighted the importance of strategic petroleum reserves. India has built underground storage facilities at three locations—Visakhapatnam, Mangalore, and Padur—with capacity to hold about 5.33 million tonnes of crude oil. These reserves can provide a buffer of about 9.5 days of consumption, based on 2019-20 demand. Discussions are underway to expand this capacity. In a crisis, every day of buffer matters.
The Road Ahead
The two tankers that have arrived in India are a hopeful sign, but they are not a solution. Numerous other vessels remain stuck, and the conflict shows no signs of abating. Each new shipment will require negotiation, each crossing will carry risk, and the overall flow of oil through the strait remains far below normal levels.
India will need to continue its diplomatic engagement with Iran, while also working with other stakeholders—the United States, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others—to find a broader resolution to the conflict. It will need to explore alternative routes and sources, even as it hopes for a return to normalcy.
The immediate challenge is to keep the oil flowing. The longer-term challenge is to reduce dependence on a single chokepoint and build resilience into the energy system. Both challenges are urgent, and both will require sustained effort.
Conclusion: Hope Anchored in Reality
The arrival of two oil tankers in Mumbai is a small victory in a larger struggle. It demonstrates that diplomacy can work, that channels of communication can be maintained even in times of conflict, and that India’s interests can be advanced through patient engagement.
But it also underscores the fragility of the situation. A single escalation, a miscalculation, or a change in Iranian policy could close the strait again. The tankers that made it through are a reason for cautious optimism, not complacency.
For now, India will take the win. The crude oil on those tankers will feed refineries, produce fuel, and keep the economy moving. The diplomats who secured their passage will continue their work. The industry will watch for the next shipments. And the country will hope that the strait remains open—for its tankers, and for its future.
Q&A: Unpacking the Oil Tanker Breakthrough
Q1: What is the significance of the two oil tankers reaching India?
A: The two tankers—carrying approximately 3 million barrels of crude oil from Saudi Arabia and Iraq—are the first known instances of non-Iranian oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the West Asia conflict began on February 28, 2026. Reports had indicated that Iran was allowing only its own China-bound tankers to cross the strait. Their arrival has raised hopes that more of India’s energy supplies currently stuck in the Persian Gulf could find their way to the country in the coming days and weeks.
Q2: Why is the Strait of Hormuz critical for India’s energy security?
A: The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints, through which nearly 20 per cent of global oil consumption passes. India imports over 80 per cent of its crude oil requirements, and a significant portion of its imports from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE must transit these waters. Any prolonged disruption would force India to seek alternative and more expensive sources, strain foreign exchange reserves, and ultimately raise consumer prices.
Q3: What diplomatic efforts preceded this breakthrough?
A: According to Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart have held three conversations in recent days, discussing issues pertaining to the safety of shipping and India’s energy security. Sources indicate that India has been engaging in talks with Iran to secure safe passage for vessels headed to India, particularly oil and LPG tankers. The two successful transits suggest these diplomatic efforts may be bearing fruit.
Q4: What does “going dark” mean, and why did the tankers do it?
A: “Going dark” refers to the practice of switching off a vessel’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder, which broadcasts its position, identity, and other data to prevent public detection. Both tankers are estimated to have turned off their AIS before crossing the strait, likely to avoid drawing attention and reduce the risk of interception. While this makes it impossible to verify exactly what arrangements were made for their passage, it is a common practice in high-risk situations.
Q5: What are the longer-term implications of this episode for India’s energy strategy?
A: The crisis highlights the vulnerability inherent in dependence on a single chokepoint. It underscores the importance of diversifying energy sources through increased domestic production, renewable energy, nuclear power, and imports from other regions. It also emphasises the value of strategic petroleum reserves, which can provide a buffer during disruptions. While the successful passage of these tankers is a hopeful sign, the underlying vulnerability remains, and reducing it will require sustained policy effort.
