Key facts
- India has lodged a strong protest with the US following a strike that killed three Indian seafarers aboard the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello in the Gulf of Oman.
- US Central Command stated the vessel violated a naval blockade of Iran's ports and failed to comply with instructions.
- Iran has blamed US attacks for the deaths of the Indian seafarers and condemned actions endangering international shipping.
- A second tanker incident involving a fire on MT Jalveer was reported near Shinas port, Oman.
- India's government is closely monitoring Indian-flagged vessels and crew in the Gulf region.
India has lodged a strong protest with the US after three Indian seafarers were killed in US military strikes against the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello in the Gulf of Oman. US Central Command stated that its forces carried out precision strikes after the ship repeatedly failed to comply with instructions and was allegedly violating a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
US President Donald Trump accused Iran of targeting Indian ships, while Iran blamed US attacks for the deaths and condemned actions endangering international shipping. India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that these attacks must cease and called for dialogue and diplomacy to restore regional peace and stability.
The incident marks the first fatalities since the US imposed its blockade in April. The three deceased sailors were identified as Patnala Suresh, Aditya Sharma, and Shivanand Chaurashiya. India's shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal described the event as a 'profound loss to our maritime family.'
Amid escalating tensions, India reported a second tanker incident involving a fire on MT Jalveer near Shinas port, Oman, within 24 hours. The Indian government stated it is closely monitoring all Indian-flagged vessels and crew in the Gulf. Earlier in the week, a US fighter jet targeted the oil tanker Marivex, and US forces also acted against another Indian-crewed tanker, alleging it attempted to transport oil from Iran.
India is a major supplier of merchant marine labour, with Indian seafarers making up approximately 15% of the global maritime workforce. Given that nearly a fifth of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, many Indian seafarers work in Gulf countries and on tankers transiting the region.