Iranian Forces Fire on Indian Ships in Strait of Hormuz; India Summons Ambassador

Indian-flagged vessels carrying crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz were forced to divert their routes on Saturday following firing by Iranian military forces, while taking a stern stance on the incident, India summoned the Iranian Ambassador to lodge a formal protest. Amidst the re-closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, one Indian oil tanker successfully navigated the critical waterway, while at least four other vessels were forced to turn back due to the hostilities.

Vessel Movements and Firing in the Strait

According to ship tracking data, the oil tanker 'Desh Garima', owned by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. This marks the 10th Indian-flagged vessel to navigate the route since the beginning of March. MarineTraffic data indicated that by Saturday evening, the tanker was moving forward into the Gulf of Oman. However, other vessels faced significant disruptions. Data showed that oil tankers 'Sunmar Herald', 'Desh Vaibhav', and 'Desh Vibhor', along with the cargo ship 'Jag Arnav', changed their course near the blockade point.

Action by the Revolutionary Guard Corps

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker notified them of firing from two Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps boats approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman. This incident is believed to be the primary reason for the diversion of Indian vessels, while com, two Indian-flagged vessels, including a supertanker loaded with Iraqi crude oil, had to turn back following the firing. Regarding the management of these vessels, the state-owned SCI handles 'Desh Vaibhav' and 'Desh Vibhor', while 'Sunmar Herald' is operated by Sunmar Shipping and 'Jag Arnav' by the Great Eastern Shipping Company.

India's Strong Diplomatic Protest

The Indian government has adopted a firm position regarding this incident. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri summoned Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Fataali to convey India's deep concern over the firing. During the meeting, the Foreign Secretary asked the Ambassador to brief Iranian authorities on India's perspective. He urged for the immediate restoration of safe passage for Indian vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.

Regional Tensions and Closure of the Strait

Tehran had largely restricted ship movements in the Strait of Hormuz approximately six weeks ago following attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. This move led to an increase in international oil prices. Although Tehran announced the opening of the waterway for commercial traffic on Friday, it was closed again on Saturday. Iran alleged that the United States violated an agreement reached between the two parties, leading to the renewed closure of the strategic maritime route.