Nine fully loaded tankers carrying crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas for India remain stalled near the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh concern over energy supplies as vessel movement through the world’s most sensitive oil chokepoint falls to its weakest level since the US-Iran memorandum of understanding was signed last month.
The stranded vessels include crude carriers and LPG ships either awaiting clearance, holding position outside higher-risk lanes or moving at reduced speed under tighter security instructions. Shipping trackers show a sharp thinning of tanker traffic near the Gulf of Oman and the eastern approaches to Hormuz, with operators reluctant to enter the narrow waterway after renewed military exchanges between Washington and Tehran.
The disruption follows the collapse of a fragile diplomatic pause that had briefly improved confidence among shipowners, refiners and energy buyers. US President Donald Trump said the interim understanding with Iran was “over” after attacks on commercial vessels and US-linked facilities in the Gulf, while American forces launched another round of strikes on Iranian military infrastructure. Tehran has threatened retaliation and signalled that any attempt to pressure its oil and port assets could widen the confrontation.
The Strait of Hormuz is only about 33km wide at its narrowest point, yet it carries roughly a fifth of global petroleum liquids trade. Before the latest slowdown, around 20 million barrels a day of crude, condensate and refined fuels moved through the passage, along with large volumes of LNG and LPG from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and the UAE. Any prolonged stoppage would tighten supplies across Asia, where importers depend heavily on Gulf cargoes.
For India, the immediate concern is not a physical shortage but timing, insurance and replacement cost. The country imports more than four-fifths of its crude oil requirement and relies on seaborne LPG cargoes to supplement domestic output. Gulf suppliers remain central to refinery feedstock planning and household cooking gas availability, particularly when winter buying in North Asia or maintenance at domestic plants tightens regional LPG markets.
Officials and industry executives are assessing whether the stranded cargoes can move under naval coordination, wait for calmer conditions or be replaced through spot purchases from outside the Gulf. Refiners have some flexibility because crude stocks, strategic reserves and diversified supply contracts provide a buffer. LPG is more exposed because specialised carriers, terminal schedules and household distribution cycles leave less room for sudden delays.
Oil prices have already reflected the renewed risk. Brent crude moved close to $80 a barrel after the latest escalation, reversing part of the relief rally that followed the June diplomatic pause. Freight rates for Gulf-linked voyages have hardened, while war-risk premiums have climbed for ships entering waters near Iran, Oman and the UAE. Traders said some charterers are seeking clauses allowing vessels to delay loading, divert or refuse transit if insurers withdraw cover.
The nine tankers are part of a wider backlog of energy vessels waiting for safer movement across the Gulf. Some ships have reduced automatic identification signals or altered routes, a practice that complicates tracking but has become common in conflict zones. Maritime security advisories have urged vessels to maintain heightened vigilance, report suspicious approaches and avoid unnecessary loitering near contested waters.
The disruption also raises questions over the durability of the US-Iran framework agreed last month. The memorandum was intended to create a window for indirect negotiations and reduce attacks on shipping, but its limited scope left unresolved disputes over sanctions, Iran’s nuclear programme, missile activity and Gulf security guarantees. The latest attacks have weakened confidence that commercial traffic can normalise without a broader political settlement.
Energy planners are watching three pressure points: how long the tankers remain delayed, whether Iran formally restricts traffic, and whether Gulf producers can maintain loading schedules. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have pipeline routes that bypass Hormuz for part of their exports, but those systems cannot replace all seaborne volumes. Qatar’s LNG exports, Kuwait’s shipments and much of Iraq’s southern crude trade remain heavily dependent on the strait.
New Delhi has avoided public alarm while keeping contact with shipping companies, insurers and Gulf partners. The priority is safe passage rather than rapid movement, especially after attacks on tankers earlier in the conflict exposed crews to direct danger. A miscalculation involving any India-bound cargo could force higher-level diplomatic intervention and sharpen pressure on fuel pricing policy at home.
