NEW DELHI, APRIL 18 — Major diplomatic escalation, India summoned the Iranian Ambassador on Saturday to lodge a formal protest after two Indian-flagged merchant vessels were fired upon by the Iranian Navy. The incident, which occurred north of Oman, involved the Jag Arnav, a supertanker carrying approximately two million barrels of Iraqi oil, and the Sanmar Herald.
Government sources confirmed that at least two Indian vessels were caught up in the episode, reportedly near an IRGC-controlled checkpoint close to Larak Island. While the crew and vessels were reported safe, both ships were compelled to reverse their course. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Fathali to seek an immediate explanation for the unprovoked firing on civilian shipping in international waters.
The attack comes at a volatile time for the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint responsible for 20 percent of global oil transit. Although Iran had recently declared the strait “completely open” following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, recent reports indicate a sudden reimposition of restrictions. Officials stated that India is taking the firing by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seriously and the country stands for open and free navigation in the region.
The Indian Navy is currently gathering further details on the engagement, noting that while no Indian warships were in the immediate vicinity of the strait, the Navy maintains a significant presence in the Gulf of Oman with two destroyers and a frigate. Officials noted that India is among the countries with the highest number of vessels passing through the strait, underscoring its heavy reliance on Gulf energy imports.
