India Summons Iranian envoy, Lodges Protest after Indian Ship gets Fired Upon in Strait of Hormuz

New Delhi: Following the firing incident involving the Indian-flagged tanker 'Sanmar Herald,' the Ministry of External Affairs summoned Iran's Ambassador to India Dr. Mohammad Fathali and lodged a formal protest. It is reported that the Iranian Ambassador was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday evening.

Why Did Iran Fire on Indian Crude Oil Tanker?

According to reports, the incident took place north of Oman on Saturday when the Iranian Navy opened fire on a large Indian crude oil tanker. The tanker was loaded with approximately two million barrels of Iraqi oil. This incident occurred shortly after reports emerged stating that two Indian vessels had been forced to turn back from the Strait of Hormuz. The two vessels involved in this incident were named 'Jag Arnav' and 'Sanmar Herald.'

How Did Indian Navy Respond?

Sources stated that the Indian Navy is currently attempting to gather information regarding the incident, as no Indian naval vessel is currently present in the Strait of Hormuz. Two Indian destroyers, a frigate, and a tanker are currently deployed in the Gulf of Oman. 

The UK Navy reported on Saturday that Iranian gunboats had fired upon several vessels attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping sources told the media that several merchant vessels received radio messages from the Iranian Navy stating that the strait had been closed once again and that no vessel was permitted to pass through it. Vessel tracking data revealed that on Saturday morning, five ships laden with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)—originating from Ras Laffan, Qatar—were heading toward the strait.

Are Indian Ships Stranded in the Persian Gulf?

Hundreds of ships have been stranded in the Persian Gulf since February 28, following the outbreak of conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, and Tehran's subsequent closure of the strait; consequently, oil and gas producers in the Gulf region have been forced to drastically cut their production. Major producers—such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, and Kuwait—state that to resume normal export operations, they require the continuous movement of tankers and unimpeded passage through the strait.