11 India-Bound Ships Transit Strait of Hormuz

After Iran–US MoU; 10 Vessels Still Stranded in Gulf

New Delhi | June 24, 2026

Signs of normalcy are returning to one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. India on Tuesday stated that 11 India-bound ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz following the signing of a

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States to halt hostilities, while 10 India-flagged vessels are still in the Persian Gulf region.

The confirmation came from MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a regular press briefing, who stated: "We have ten Indian-flagged vessels still in the Persian Gulf region. In addition, we have two Indian ships which have crossed from this side into the Persian Gulf. Since the signing of the MoU, eleven India-bound vessels have crossed the Strait of Hormuz."

What Cargo Is Moving

The vessels that have made the journey include three Indian-flagged crude oil tankers, each loaded with over 285,000 metric tonnes of crude oil, one foreign-flagged LPG carrier, one foreign-flagged crude oil tanker, and six foreign-flagged bulk carriers carrying fertiliser cargo. Jaiswal expressed optimism about the remaining ships, stating that "It is our expectation and hope that the remaining Indian-flagged vessels will also be able to cross Hormuz soon."

Background: Four Months of Crisis

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked by Iran since February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched an air war against Iran and assassinated its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel, US military bases in the region, and US-allied Gulf states. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued warnings forbidding passage through the strait, boarded and attacked merchant ships, and laid sea mines in the strait.

Until the US–Israeli war against Iran, about 25% of the world's seaborne oil trade and 20% of the world's liquefied natural gas passed through the strait.

India's Diplomatic Role

India has used diplomatic coordination as its primary tool, with the Ministry of External Affairs maintaining active contact with Iran and other regional countries to secure safe, unimpeded transit for Indian vessels. India has successfully reduced the number of stranded ships from 36–38 to just 13 since February 2026. The June 17 Iran–US MoU and subsequent diplomatic efforts involving Qatar and Pakistan have helped ease tensions and facilitate the movement of commercial vessels.

Shipping Traffic Recovering

Independent maritime tracking agencies have registered heightened commercial shipping traffic in the last few days, signalling a noticeable recovery in transport volumes after severe bottlenecks triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. According to figures published by commodity analytics firm Kpler, no fewer than 36 resource carriers sailed through the strait on Monday, representing one of the densest operational windows observed since the conflict erupted in February.

Situation Remains Fragile

Despite the progress, the situation is not fully stable. While the Strait of Hormuz had been cleared for traffic last week under the preliminary Washington-Tehran MoU, Iranian authorities on Saturday proclaimed a renewed closure of the waterway following military strikes by Israel inside Lebanon.

The latest figures released by the MEA indicate that India's energy supplies and fertiliser imports have begun moving through the corridor, offering relief to policymakers and markets alike. New Delhi is closely monitoring the situation and remains hopeful that the remaining Indian vessels stranded in the Gulf region will soon be able to resume their journeys.

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Sources: ANI, The Tribune, Daily Pioneer, Open Magazine — June 23–24, 2026

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