Amid continuing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, Iran’s state broadcaster, citing the IRGC Navy, said that 30 vessels had passed through the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian authorization since last night.
The announcement came as India strongly reacted to an attack on an Indian-flagged vessel near the coast of Oman. New Delhi called the incident “unacceptable” and demanded an end to attacks targeting commercial ships and civilian sailors.
In a statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs thanked Omani authorities for rescuing the crew and stressed the importance of protecting maritime routes in the region.
Maritime security company Vanguard identified the targeted vessel as the “MSV Haj Ali.” According to the firm, the 54-meter wooden dhow sank after an explosion near the coast of Lima, Oman, south of the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was reportedly carrying livestock from Berbera port in Somaliland to Sharjah in the UAE and is suspected to have been hit by a drone or missile strike.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained one of the region’s main flashpoints since the war involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran began on February 28 last year. Iran has imposed major restrictions on maritime traffic, while the United States has continued its naval blockade of Iranian ports despite the fragile ceasefire that has been in place since April 8.
Over recent weeks, ship attacks, vessel seizures, and disruptions to shipping lanes have raised alarm among major energy-importing countries, especially India, China, and Japan, while also increasing instability in global oil and gas markets.
