India has summoned the Iranian envoy in New Delhi to express “deep concern” over an attack on two Indian-flagged vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday (April 18).
One of the vessels involved was identified as the Sanmar Herald, according to an Indian government source. The crew and the ship were reported safe following the incident.
India’s top foreign ministry official conveyed New Delhi’s concerns and urged Iranian authorities to resume the facilitation of India-bound shipping through the strategic waterway at the earliest opportunity, the ministry said in a statement.
The Iranian ambassador reportedly assured that the concerns would be communicated to Tehran.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region after Iran reportedly reversed its earlier decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and fired upon tankers attempting to pass through the vital shipping route.
Iran also warned that it would continue blocking transit through the strait as long as what it describes as a US blockade of Iranian ports remains in place.
According to Iran’s joint military command, “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state … under strict management and control of the armed forces.”
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said two gunboats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a tanker passing through the strait. Shipping monitoring service TankerTrackers.com reported that multiple vessels, including an Indian-flagged supertanker, were forced to turn back after coming under fire.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard navy also issued a warning stating that any vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be treated as a hostile target. It further said that ships attempting to enter the area could be considered as cooperating with “the enemy” and may be targeted.
The escalation has raised fears of further disruption in global energy supply chains, as nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts warn that prolonged instability could push oil prices higher and intensify pressure on the global economy.
Despite the tensions, diplomatic sources indicate that efforts are still ongoing to reach a broader agreement ahead of an April 22 deadline, as mediators continue to push for de-escalation between the parties involved.
