New Delhi protests Iran fire at Indian-flagged ships in Hormuz

India summoned Iran’s ambassador to protest a reported shooting incident involving two Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

The ministry said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri conveyed “deep concern” over the incident and urged Tehran to ensure safe passage for India-bound shipping through the key waterway.

Iranian authorities did not immediately publicly comment on the allegation.

Reported confrontation at sea

Maritime monitoring sources and shipping trackers said several commercial vessels came under threats and possible fire on Saturday while attempting to transit the strait.

Tracking service TankerTrackers.com said on social media that two Indian-flagged vessels were forced to turn back after encountering Iran’s Revolutionary Guard naval units.

One of the ships was described as a large crude carrier transporting Iraqi oil, according to the tracking data.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has not confirmed the reported incident.

Strategic shipping concerns

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, with a significant share of global crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas shipments passing through it.

India, a major importer of energy supplies, has faced ongoing disruptions since the conflict escalations in the region earlier this year. The country relies heavily on Gulf imports for liquefied petroleum gas.

India maintains longstanding ties with Iran while also deepening cooperation with regional rival Israel in areas such as defense and technology.

In its statement, New Delhi said the Iranian envoy acknowledged India’s concerns and pledged to relay them to Tehran, as tensions over maritime security in the Gulf continue to rise.