Indian Ships Come Under Fire Near Strait of Hormuz, Raising Maritime Security Concerns

Two Indian vessels reportedly came under gunfire from Iranian naval forces near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman, sparking fresh concerns over maritime security and prompting a strong reaction from New Delhi.

According to sources on Saturday, the ships—Jag Arnav and Sanmar Herald—were directly targeted. One of them, a large oil tanker, was carrying nearly 2 million barrels of crude oil from Iraq. Reports indicate that both vessels had been forced to turn back from the Strait of Hormuz shortly before the incident.

An official stated that shots were fired in the direction of both ships.

The incident comes despite Iran’s earlier assurances that vessels belonging to countries not involved in its conflict with the United States and Israel would not be targeted. In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs lodged a strong protest and summoned the Iranian ambassador to seek an explanation.

The Indian Navy is currently assessing the situation. Officials noted that no Indian warships are presently deployed in the Strait of Hormuz, though two destroyers, a frigate, and a tanker are stationed in the Gulf of Oman.

Indian authorities have taken the firing seriously, particularly as it is believed to involve Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). They reiterated India’s commitment to ensuring “free and open navigation” through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait remains one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, with nearly 20 percent of global crude oil passing through it. India, heavily dependent on energy imports from the Gulf region, is among the countries with the highest shipping traffic through this corridor.

Notably, despite ongoing tensions with the United States, Iran had previously described India as a “friendly nation” and allowed its vessels to pass, while warning or restricting ships from several other countries with threats of drone and missile attacks.

Meanwhile, amid these developments, Iran announced on Friday that it would temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This followed a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, reportedly mediated by the United States.

Maritime tracking data showed that a convoy of eight oil tankers crossed the Strait for the first time in nearly seven weeks. On the same day, Donald Trump claimed that Iran had agreed to reopen the passage. However, Iranian officials stated that the move was conditional on the complete lifting of U.S. sanctions on its oil tankers.