Iran lawmaker says Hormuz transit curbs lifted for India, China, Iraq, Qatar

"We have currently exempted India, China, Iraq and Qatar from transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. Ships from these countries pass freely," Hayat-Moghaddam said, according to the account. He said the exemptions were intended to support mutual interests among countries that have long traded with one another.

The lawmaker said Indian ships are being facilitated to move medicines, while Chinese vessels are exempted to secure Beijing's political support. He said Iran does not levy transit tolls on Qatari vessels and that each exemption was granted on separate considerations. "We are conducting business, and each of these exemptions has a distinct reason," he said.

Hayat-Moghaddam also said the US Navy does not block the exempted ships. "The Americans do not interfere with them either," he said. The report said Iranian export flows have been constrained by a US naval blockade of the country's ports lasting many months.

The account was published by ZeroHedge, which cited the Iranian Students' News Agency interview. The report also said attacks on commercial vessels in the region reached a record number in October and that the near-daily pace has slowed.