India's shipping ministry granted special permission for four Iranian oil tankers to berth at Sikka port operated by Reliance Industries. The vessels, including U.S.-sanctioned ships over twenty years old, received exemptions from standard safety certification requirements due to emergency conditions from Strait of Hormuz closure. This marks a significant shift as India, the world's third-largest oil importer, has avoided Iranian crude imports since 2019 under U.S. sanctions pressure. The exemption applies to Comoros-flagged Kaviz, Curacao-flagged Lenore, and Iran-flagged VLCCs Felicity and Hedy. However, uncertainty remains whether Reliance will actually process the Iranian oil, as the company seeks to ensure all transactions comply with sanctions regulations and Indian maritime laws.
