Three Indian-flagged crude oil supertankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, carrying 94 Indian crew members and 860,000 tonnes of crude oil. The ships, Desh Vaibhav, Desh Vibhor, and Sanmar Herald, are sailing for home and are expected to reach India between June 24 and July 1.
Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed that all three tankers had safely transited the strait, which had been shut again by Iran's military citing Israeli strikes in Lebanon and US 'bad faith'. The US had lifted its naval blockade of Iran on Thursday, but Iran reopened the strait on Saturday, only to shut it again in the evening.
Ten Indian vessels remain in the Persian Gulf, and the Indian government is actively coordinating with agencies to guarantee the safety of its seafarers and energy lifelines. The US and Iran had signed an interim deal to end their war, but Iran's joint military command said it was shutting the strait in response to continued Israeli strikes and US 'bad faith'.
