The maritime data company reported that nine ships have exited Iran's corridor in the Strait of Hormuz . Meanwhile, The Hindu reported, citing reliable sources in India, that due to the continuing deterioration of the situation in West Asia, Indian ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz for more than two weeks have been asked to "stay put." He said the movement of Indian ships and other vessels has been halted following Israeli attacks on Iran's largest gas fields in South Pars.
Iran is building a safe corridor for Indian ships to pass through
Richard Mead, Editor-in-Chief of Lloyd's List Intelligence, told The Hindu that 'while the data from the Automatic Identification System is limited, it suggests that the Indian LPG carrier took an unusual route around Iran's Larak Island and through Iranian waters so that the IRGC Navy and port authorities could visually confirm the vessel's identity.' LLI reported that nine ships have left Iran's supposedly secure corridor and at least one tanker was allowed to pass through after paying Iran $2 million.
There is a possibility that as the situation in the Iran war escalates, the US may also send its warships to the area. Meanwhile, according to a report in The Hindu, Prime Minister Modi spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian by telephone on March 12th. Following this, negotiations began regarding allowing 24 ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has so far allowed two Indian ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The way out of Iran's secure corridor
The Hindu quoted a source as saying that the ships allowed to pass were asked to "pass through a designated route close to the Iranian coast." Security analysts say this is a move that will also protect Iran's coastal security infrastructure from US and Israeli attacks. Furthermore, sources said Iranian officials initially suggested that the Indian ships, spread out in the congested waters, should move closer to each other to make them easier to maneuver.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier this week that the Strait of Hormuz is operational but that Iran will not allow US and Israeli-linked ships to pass through. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant told CNBC on Monday, March 16, that the US is allowing Iranian oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. He said, "Iranian ships are already leaving, and we have allowed that to happen to supply the rest of the world."
The recent diplomatic breakthrough between New Delhi and Tehran has led to the establishment of a "safe shipping corridor" controlled by Iran to evacuate stranded vessels. This move is being viewed as a significant diplomatic victory for the Modi government amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
The New Maritime Corridor
Following a high-level telephone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on March 12, 2026, negotiations accelerated to secure the release of ships caught in the regional blockade.
Evacuation List: India has earmarked 22 vessels for priority evacuation.
Strategic Importance: Of these, 20 ships are classified as critical to India’s energy security, carrying roughly 1.7 million tonnes of cargo, including crude oil, LPG, and LNG.
The Route: The corridor runs through Iranian territorial waters, specifically around Larak Island. This allows the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to visually verify vessels before they transit the Strait of Hormuz.
Current Status: As of March 20, at least nine ships have successfully exited through this corridor. Notable Indian vessels that have already safely transited include the LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi, as well as the crude oil tanker Jag Laadki.
Key Challenges & Context
While the corridor offers a lifeline, it remains a complex and selective "vetting system" rather than a fully open transit lane.
| Feature | Current Status |
| Vetting Process | Managed by the IRGC; requires extensive ownership and cargo data in advance. |
| Operational Risks | Tensions remain high; some ships were recently asked to "stay put" following strikes on Iran's South Pars gas fields. |
| Cost of Passage | Some reports indicate high "transit fees" for certain operators, though diplomatic channels are the primary route for Indian ships. |
| Global Impact | While India, China, and others are negotiating directly with Iran, Western-linked shipping remains largely blocked. |
The safe return of these vessels is expected to provide much-needed relief to India's domestic energy markets, which have faced supply pressures over the last three weeks.
Would you like me to track the specific arrival dates of the remaining tankers at Indian ports like Mundra or Kandla?
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