Two India-flagged vessels carrying crude oil came under fire while attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, with New Delhi confirming the incident and raising concerns with Iran.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the ships were attacked on Saturday as they tried to cross the vital shipping route. Following the incident, Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Fathali was summoned by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who conveyed India’s strong concern over the reported firing.
According to maritime security sources, Iranian boats opened fire on at least two vessels in waters between Qeshm and Larak islands. The ships were forced to turn back without completing their journey.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported an incident northeast of Oman, where a tanker said it was approached by gunboats linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which fired shots. The vessel and its crew were reported safe. A container ship was also struck by gunfire, sources added.
In a further escalation, ships in the area reported hearing radio broadcasts attributed to Iranian naval forces declaring the waterway closed. The message warned that no vessel, regardless of nationality, would be allowed to pass through the strait, citing the failure of the United States to meet commitments in ongoing negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, handling roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. The renewed tensions have left hundreds of vessels and thousands of seafarers stranded in the Gulf, awaiting safe passage.