Three Indian Supertankers Safely Cross Strait of Hormuz Amid Tensions
On Saturday, three Indian-flagged supertankers successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz, heading back to India with 94 Indian crew members onboard. This happened just hours before Iran announced the strait was closed again, citing Israeli strikes in Lebanon and accusing the U.S. of not being trustworthy.
According to tanker-tracking information, one of the tankers, known as Desh Vibhor, was maneuvering through the strait earlier in the day. It briefly considered taking a southern route suggested by the U.S. military but then changed direction back toward the Iranian coast.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed later on that all three tankers—Desh Vaibhav, Desh Vibhor, and Sanmar Herald—had safely passed through and were now heading for Indian ports.
The three tankers are carrying over 860,000 tonnes of crude oil combined, which breaks down to around 285,000 tonnes each. They are expected to arrive in India between June 24 and July 1. Desh Vaibhav is set to dock at Vadinar and Desh Vibhor at Sikka, both in Gujarat, on June 24. The last ship, Sanmar Herald, is scheduled to reach Paradip, Odisha, on July 1.
Sonowal stated that the ministry is working closely with all concerned agencies to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers and the country’s energy supply lines, emphasizing the government’s commitment to maritime security.
Currently, ten Indian vessels are still in the Persian Gulf, on the western side of the strait the three tankers just crossed.
The strait had earlier reopened after a deal between Washington and Tehran aimed at easing ongoing tensions. Iran had agreed to minimize its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, in exchange for a waiver on U.S. sanctions, allowing them to sell oil.
On Thursday, the U.S. lifted its naval blockade of Iran, which had rendered the strait mostly unusable for months. However, Iran maintained that no ship could pass through without its permission.
Later on Saturday, Iran’s military declared the strait closed again, citing concerns over ongoing Israeli actions in Lebanon and dissatisfaction with U.S. adherence to the agreement. They warned that further steps could follow if military actions continue.
This announcement came even as Iran confirmed that its negotiation team, including high-ranking officials, was traveling to Switzerland for discussions, a trip originally planned for Friday. Pakistan, playing a key mediator role, announced that technical talks would begin Sunday, involving Qatari mediators as well.
However, an Iranian official indicated little progress would be made until the U.S. fulfilled its commitments under the deal, stressing that meaningful negotiations would only start once these obligations were met.
If the commitments are not honored, the entire agreement could be in jeopardy.
