India set to get first Iranian oil cargo in 7 years, tracking data shows

India now imports Russian crude oil

NEW DELHI, April 8 (Reuters) – India is set to receive its first oil from Iran ​in seven years this week, after the U.S. temporarily removed ‌sanctions on Iranian oil and refined products to ease supply shortages, ship tracking data from LSEG and Kpler showed ​on Wednesday.

The cargo on the Curacao-flagged very large ​crude carrier Jaya was purchased by state-run ⁠Indian Oil Corp .NS> and is heading to India’s ​east coast, the data showed.

Indian Oil, the country’s top ​refiner, did not immediately respond to a Reuters email seeking comment.

The vessel carrying Iranian oil initially went to South East ​Asian waters for discharge in China before heading ​to India, LSEG ship tracking shows.

LSEG data shows another carrier Jordan ‌is ⁠signalling India as its discharge location.

India, the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer, has not received a cargo from Tehran since May 2019, following U.S. pressure ​not to buy ​Iranian crude, ⁠but supply disruptions from the U.S.-Israel war have hit the South Asian nation hard.

India’s oil ​ministry last week said that refiners have ​purchased ⁠Iranian oil amid the Middle East conflict that has disrupted supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

The ministry ⁠also said ​last week that refiners are ​not facing any problems with payments for Iranian oil purchases.