Iran has exempted vessels from India, China, Iraq, and Qatar from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, allowing them to pass through the strategic waterway without limitations, according to IranWire and Anadolu Agency.

Ahmad Hayat-Moghaddam, Vice Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, announced the decision on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

“We are conducting business, and each of these exemptions has a distinct reason,” Hayat-Moghaddam told IranWire. "We have currently exempted India, China, Iraq, and Qatar from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. Ships from these countries pass freely, and the Americans do not intercept them either," he was quoted as saying by Anadolu Agency.

According to the reports, India's exemption is intended to facilitate medicine imports into Iran, while China's is linked to Tehran's expectation of political backing from Beijing. Indian and Chinese vessels will have to pay a transit fee, while Qatari ships will be allowed to pass without charge. The reports did not specify the reason behind Iraq's exemption.