Iran appears to be allowing select ships through the Strait of Hormuz, freeing a trickle of oil and gas that has helped to keep a lid on global energy prices.
Karachi, a crude-oil tanker flying under the Pakistan flag, sailed through the strait on Sunday while broadcasting its location, becoming the first non-Iranian vessel to have done so, according to ship-tracker MarineTraffic.
Maritime analysts say the passage might indicate that Iran is waving through some non-Iranian oil cargoes in negotiated safe voyages.
The safe passage of the two Indian LPG tankers followed a phone call last week between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and after India helped repatriate more than 140 Iranian nationals on a charter flight arranged by Iran.
It wasn't clear where they were sailing, but China buys most of Iran's sanctioned oil.
Traffic through Hormuz is still well below prewar levels, with around 1,100 ships including 250 petroleum tankers stuck in the Gulf.
