Indian Ships Fired Upon in Hormuz, Crew Safe
New Delhi: Two Indian-flagged vessels were fired upon by Iranian gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, sources said, adding that no injuries or damage were reported in the incident.
According to sources, the vessels — Jag Arnav and Sanmar Herald — were targeted in the shipping lane northeast of Oman, a crucial route for global oil trade. Following the firing, both ships altered course and moved away from the area.
One of the vessels involved is a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), a category of tankers designed for transporting large volumes of crude oil over long distances.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over maritime security in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass.
Following the development, the Government of India summoned the Iranian Ambassador and conveyed its concern over the incident. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement, emphasised the importance of ensuring the safety of merchant vessels and crew.
The Foreign Secretary urged the Iranian side to convey India’s concerns to its authorities and to facilitate the safe passage of India-bound ships through the strait at the earliest.
The Iranian Ambassador assured that the concerns would be communicated to the relevant authorities.
The incident comes amid ongoing tensions in the region, including developments linked to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports. Earlier, Iran had indicated that control of the Strait of Hormuz had stabilised, even as movements of commercial shipping remained affected.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key maritime corridor carrying a substantial share of the world’s energy supplies, making any disruption a matter of global concern.
