India has received fresh shipments of Iranian crude oil after a gap of nearly seven years, even as Tehran clarified that Indian-flagged vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz have not been charged any ‘tolls.’
Two large tankers carrying Iranian crude recently reached Indian ports. The Iran-flagged vessel Felicity docked at Sikka Port in Gujarat with around 2 million barrels of oil that was loaded from Kharg Island in mid-March. Another tanker, Jaya, sailing under the Curacao flag, arrived near Paradip Port in Odisha with a similar quantity of crude loaded in late February, before the recent US and Israeli military strikes on Iran.
The buyers of these cargoes have not been officially disclosed. However, Paradip Port, which is mainly operated by Indian Oil Corporation, has confirmed that it purchased at least one shipment under a waiver. Sikka is an important crude handling hub where Reliance Industries and Bharat Petroleum Corporation have major facilities.
Earlier this month, a separate shipment of 44,000 tonnes of Iranian LPG also reached Mangalore on 2nd April, showing signs of renewed energy trade between the two countries. This trade had largely stopped in 2019 after stricter US sanctions. India was once among the biggest buyers of Iranian oil before those restrictions came into force.
The situation remains uncertain, as the United States has now announced a blockade of Iranian ports following the collapse of recent peace talks, aiming to limit Iran’s oil exports. Last month, another tanker, Ping Shun, carrying about 600,000 barrels of Iranian crude, was headed for Vadinar in Gujarat but changed course to China due to payment issues. If it had arrived, it would have marked the first such delivery in years.
Reports suggest that around 95 million barrels of Iranian oil are currently stored on ships at sea, with nearly 51 million barrels potentially available for India, while the rest is more suitable for buyers in China and Southeast Asia.
‘No toll on Indian ships through Hormuz, Iran-India have good relations’, says Ambassador
Amid rising tensions in the region, Iran has made it clear that Indian ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz have not been asked to pay any charges.
Iran Ambassador @Iran_in_India @IranAmbIndia says no toll charged on Indian vessels thru Hormuz; Points to "good relations" between the 2 countries pic.twitter.com/CIotheWj34
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) April 13, 2026
Speaking in New Delhi, Ambassador Mohammad Fathali said, “You can ask the Indian government if we have charged anything up to now. In this difficult time, we have good relations. We believe Iran and India share common interests and a common fate.”
He also added that no toll was taken from Indian vessels because of the strong ties between the two countries and assured that Tehran is ready to support India in ensuring safe navigation through the strategic route.
