Two Indian vessels, including a large crude oil tanker carrying about two million barrels of Iraqi oil, were on Saturday fired upon by the Iran Navy north of Oman, people aware of the matter said, shortly after reports emerged that the Indian ships were forced to turn back from the Strait of Hormuz.
The vessels — Jag Arnav and Sanmar Herald— came under direct attack, raising fresh concerns over maritime security in the region. “Both vessels were fired upon,” an official said. Iran has previously said that countries not involved in the conflict with the US and Israel will not be targeted.
The development has led to a strong protest from India’s foreign ministry, with New Delhi summoning the Iranian envoy over the matter.
The Indian Navy is trying to ascertain details of the incident as there is no Indian Navy ship in the Straits of Hormuz, they added. India has two destroyers, one frigate and one tanker in the Gulf of Oman.
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There were no injuries reported after the incident. A strong protest has been lodged by India, with the joint secretary asking the Iranian envoy to explain why the firing took place.
According to Marine Traffic, Jag Arnav, bulk carrier sailing under the flag of India, was travelling from Al Jubail in Saudi Arabia and was en route India.
Meanwhile, the second ship, Sanmar Herald, was enroute to India, carrying crude oil from Iraq.
The officials said that India is taking the firing by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seriously and the country stands for open and free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most vital oil transit corridors, through which 20% share of global crude shipments passes.
India is among the countries with the highest number of vessels passing through the strait, reflecting its dependence on energy imports from the Gulf region.
Iran has, amid the war with the US, listed India among friendly nations whose ships it is allowing to cross through the vital strait while keeping others halted with threats of drone-missile attack.
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The attacks come even as Iran announced temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on Friday after a US-brokered 10-day ceasefire agreement on Thursday between Israel and Lebanon.
Maritime trackers even showed a convoy of eight tankers transiting the strait in the first major movement of ships since the US-Israeli war on Iran began seven weeks ago.
US President Donald Trump on Friday said Iran had agreed to open the strait, while Iranian officials said they wanted the US to fully lift its blockade of Iranian tankers.
