India is exporting crude through the Strait of Hormuz, yes.... the story begins.. like this.. the first time only three phone calls... Indian can be proud of.. that..
When the US, Israel and other countries were blocked in the Strait of Hormuz - India sailed through it.
How did the Shenlong oil tanker, bound for India, escape the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran-Iran war?
The Liberian-flagged tanker Shenlong, captained by an Indian, carrying 135,335 metric tons of Saudi crude, departed for Ras Tanura on March 1. It entered the Strait of Hormuz on March 8. It later disappeared from tracking radars.
The crew had turned off their AIS transponder, the mandatory system that broadcasts the ship's identity and location. They were left in complete darkness as they navigated through some of the most dangerous waters on Earth.
On March 9, it reappeared on the other side. On March 11, it docked at the Mumbai port. The Liberian-flagged tanker Shenlong, carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia, became the first India-bound ship to safely pass through the sensitive waterway during the conflict. The ship arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday evening after navigating the waterway, where attacks and military operations have disrupted maritime traffic.
The first crude shipment to India through the strait since the start of the war. With many ships waiting outside the region or diverted to alternative routes, the Shenlong's safe arrival in Mumbai marks a rare successful transit through one of the world's most sensitive maritime corridors amid the ongoing conflict.
But this is where the real story begins.
Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to US, European and Israeli shipping. It has attacked ships attempting to pass through without Iranian permission. The report says 16 ships have been burned. The reality may be far from over.
Two ships, the Express Rome and the Mayuri Nari, ignored Iranian warnings this week. Both were targeted by Iran. The Iranian IRGC naval commander said bluntly: "Any ship that intends to pass through must obtain permission from Iran."
So how did India get through?..1,2,3.. Three phone calls.
India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke directly with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi three times in two weeks - on February 28, March 5, and March 10. These are the dates.
Topic: Security of Indian Shipping and India's Energy Security.
Result: Iran agreed to allow Indian-flagged tankers to pass safely through the strait.
Two Indian tankers, Pushpak and Parimal, passed through safely that day. They passed through today too, escorted by the Indian Navy.
The Indian Navy is guiding the ship Shivalik, carrying 40,000 metric tonnes of LPG to India, through the Strait of Hormuz, sources said on Friday. Another ship will begin its journey to India through the Strait of Hormuz in the next six hours, top government sources said.
#WATCH | Liberia-flagged tanker ship 'Shenlong' enters Indian waters near Mumbai Port. It was captained by an Indian and was loaded with crude oil from the Saudi port Ras Tanura.
— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2026
Latest visuals from Mumbai Port pic.twitter.com/4BWABAsZ88
The incident comes shortly after Reuters reported that Iran had agreed to allow Indian ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, while the waterway was closed to Western and Israeli tankers and container ships.
Iranian Ambassador to India Mohammad Fattali on Friday indicated that Indian ships will receive safe transit amid tensions affecting sea lanes in the region, stressing the strong ties between the two countries.
US ships: blocked.
European ships: blocked.
Ships linked to Israel: Targeted..
Indian ships... Think about what happened here.
Iran now controls the most important oil choke point on the planet. Normally 20 million barrels flow through that strait a day.
India negotiated its own private path through it. Not through military force. Not through sanctions. Through diplomacy. There are 28 Indian-flagged ships operating in the Persian Gulf now. About 700 Indian sailors are in the western part of the strait. Since February 28, the Indian government has had a 24-hour control room monitoring each of them.
India imports more than half of its crude oil and gas through this exact route. We had everything to lose. We defended it without a single shot being fired.
Credit: From sources close to Saudi-Indian foreign affairs
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