Afghanistan, Nov. 5 -- Iran has exempted commercial vessels from four countries from restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, a move that could ease pressure on regional shipping and protect India's vital energy and trade routes.
Amir Hayat Moghadam, deputy chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said on Tuesday that ships from India, China, Iraq and Qatar were allowed to pass through the strategic waterway despite restrictions imposed on other vessels.
In an interview with the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), Moghadam said the exemptions reflected mutual interests between Tehran and the four countries. He said the arrangement would facilitate the movement of Indian ships to enable Iran to im...