On May 5, according to Jakarta Globe, the Indonesian government said that it does not object to Iranian oil tankers passing through its waters, saying that these ships are exercising the right to pass under international law.
The announcement was made after the ship tracking site Tankertankers. com reported last weekend that an Iranian super oil tanker carrying crude oil worth nearly 220 million USD entered the Lombok Strait. The ship is believed to belong to Iran National Shipbuilding Corporation (NITC).
Another Iranian oil tanker named DERYA was also recorded passing through this area on May 4 and is heading towards a rendezvous point in the Riau Islands of Indonesia. According to Jakarta Globe, the DERYA previously could not deliver 1.88 million barrels of crude oil to India by mid-April. The US Navy is also said to be directing some ships of the same group in the area back to Iran.
Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Yvonne Mewengkang said Jakarta had received relevant reports. She emphasized that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows foreign ships to pass through the straits according to international maritime regulations.
Maritime regulations in all sea areas, including Indonesian waters, are in accordance with UNCLOS 1982, which respects forms of passage suitable for each sea area," Ms. Yvonne said.
According to the spokeswoman of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country's government is conducting on-site verification and internal coordination. She said that Jakarta believes that the ships are exercising the right to pass in accordance with international law.
Indonesia will also continue to monitor the situation and exchange information through appropriate diplomatic channels if necessary.
The issue of freedom of navigation is attracting attention amid increasing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. According to Jakarta Globe, Iran blockaded this strait in response to airstrikes by the US and Israel in late February. After that, US President Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade on this strategic shipping route, after Washington and Tehran failed to reach an agreement to end the conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important oil shipping routes, with about 1/4 of global oil flows passing through this region. Therefore, any disruption here could push oil prices up sharply.
On May 5, the international benchmark Brent oil price fluctuated around 114 USD/barrel, reflecting market concerns about the risk of disruption to global energy supply.
