US Announces Hormuz Blockade, Iranian Oil Supertankers Stall Near India
Limited waiver allows oil shipments amid rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainty over Hormuz route
Iran, Apr 13 : Two supertankers loaded with Iranian crude have anchored off India’s eastern and western coasts, signalling a cautious revival of oil inflows from Tehran after a gap of nearly seven years. The development comes at a time when the United States is intensifying measures to curb Iran’s petroleum exports.
According to ship-tracking data, the vessel Felicity, operated by the National Iranian Tanker Company, reached anchorage near Sikka on Gujarat’s coast carrying around 2 million barrels of crude. The cargo had been loaded at Kharg Island in March. Around the same period, another tanker, Jaya, docked near Paradip in Odisha with a similar volume sourced earlier from the same Iranian terminal. The ownership of Jaya remains unclear, a characteristic often linked to shadow fleet operations in sanctioned trade.
India had halted Iranian oil purchases in 2019 following US sanctions. However, a recent exemption granted by Washington has permitted the import of shipments already en route, aiming to stabilise global supply chains affected by escalating tensions in the Middle East. As one of the world’s largest energy consumers, India is exploring diversified sourcing options to manage volatility in crude markets.
While official buyers have not been publicly identified, Paradip port is largely associated with Indian Oil Corporation, which has acknowledged acquiring at least one Iranian cargo under the exemption. Sikka serves as a major crude hub for Reliance Industries and Bharat Petroleum Corporation, both of which maintain significant operations there.
The arrival of these tankers suggests a limited and cautious re-entry of Iranian oil into India’s supply mix. However, ongoing geopolitical risks and regulatory uncertainties continue to influence trade dynamics.
The situation is further complicated by US President Donald Trump proposing a potential blockade of vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route. The move follows the breakdown of recent diplomatic efforts and raises questions over the future of such waivers and the continuity of shipments already in motion.
