New Delhi lodged a formal diplomatic protest on Saturday after an India-flagged vessel came under fire in the Strait of Hormuz, summoning Iranian Ambassador Dr Mohammad Fathali to convey the government’s “serious concerns and displeasure” over the incident.
According to government sources, the Ministry of External Affairs called in the Iranian envoy following the firing incident in the strategically critical waterway. Officials are expected to seek clarity from Tehran on a central question: under what authority Iranian forces engaged civilian vessels transiting one of the world’s most heavily trafficked maritime routes.
Vessel Forced to Alter Course; No Casualties Reported
Government sources confirmed that an India-flagged vessel was among those targeted during the incident. No injuries to crew members or damage to the vessel have been reported so far. The ship was forced to alter course following gunfire involving Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps units operating in the strait.
Two Indian vessels were at the centre of an IRGC-controlled detour point near Larak Island and were compelled to turn back from the area. A third vessel had managed to cross the strait earlier in the day before tensions escalated.
Since morning, eight India-flagged or India-bound vessels had approached the Strait of Hormuz. Of these, seven were forced to turn back amid the heightened security situation. Only one vessel, Desh Garima, successfully completed transit.
Directorate General of Shipping on Alert
The Directorate General of Shipping is closely monitoring developments in the region and has initiated measures to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers and India-flagged ships operating in the area. The government reiterated that the safety of seafarers remains its top priority.
Hormuz Tensions Deepen Amid US-Iran Standoff
Saturday’s incident unfolds against the backdrop of Iran reimposing strict control over the Strait of Hormuz amid an ongoing standoff with the United States, with both sides enforcing rival restrictions on maritime movement through the chokepoint.
The strait carries nearly a fifth of global oil trade and has seen sharply elevated military activity in recent days, with multiple vessels being turned back under fire. India’s formal summoning of the Iranian envoy adds a significant diplomatic dimension to the crisis, raising broader concerns over the safety of international commercial shipping and the risk of further escalation in the region.
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