Iran Fires on Indian-Flagged Ships in Strait of Hormuz as Tensions Escalate, India Lodges Strong Protest

New Delhi/West Asia, April 18:
The fragile calm in the Strait of Hormuz shattered on Saturday after Iran abruptly reversed its earlier position on reopening the crucial maritime corridor, and its naval forces reportedly fired on passing commercial vessels, including two ships flying the Indian flag, according to maritime tracking inputs and security alerts.

The incident prompted a swift diplomatic response from India, with the Ministry of External Affairs summoning the Iranian envoy in New Delhi to register a strong protest and convey serious concern over the safety of Indian seafarers and merchant vessels navigating one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes.

According to officials, the Foreign Secretary held an urgent meeting with the Ambassador of Iran and emphasized that the security of maritime trade remains a vital interest for India, especially at a time when global supply chains are already under strain due to the continuing conflict in West Asia.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said India conveyed its concern over the reported firing incident involving two Indian-flagged vessels attempting to transit the narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.

He also recalled that Iranian authorities had earlier facilitated safe passage for ships bound for Indian ports, and urged Tehran to ensure such cooperation continues.

“The safety of merchant shipping and the well-being of seafarers is of utmost importance to India,” the Foreign Secretary conveyed during the meeting, while asking the Iranian side to resume facilitation of India-bound vessels at the earliest.

Confusion prevailed across the maritime sector after Iran’s naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that the strategic waterway would once again remain closed, reportedly in response to the United States maintaining restrictions on maritime movement until Iran agrees to conditions linked to an ongoing peace framework.

The sudden reversal came barely a day after Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi indicated that commercial vessel movement would be permitted during the temporary ceasefire period linked to the Israel-Hezbollah hostilities.

That announcement had briefly raised hopes of normalcy in shipping operations.

However, maritime tracking platforms indicated that several merchant vessels, including multiple India-flagged carriers, altered course and turned back towards the Persian Gulf after gunboats reportedly approached ships attempting to cross the strait.

At least one tanker was fired upon approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman, according to an advisory issued by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre.

Authorities confirmed that the crew remained safe even as investigations into the incident continue.

Among the vessels affected were oil tankers Desh Vaibhav, Desh Vibhor, and Sanmar Herald, as well as bulk carrier Jag Arnav, which appeared to abort their transit following warnings issued after the renewed closure of the passage.

At the same time, some movement continued under tense conditions. Shipping Corporation of India’s tanker Desh Garima was among the vessels that managed to cross the strait successfully on Saturday and was reported to be sailing in the Gulf of Oman by evening, according to MarineTraffic data.

Industry observers note that as of now, around 14 India-flagged vessels remain within the Persian Gulf region, with several others waiting for clarity over safe passage conditions.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most strategically important maritime chokepoints in the world, handling nearly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Any disruption to traffic through this corridor has an immediate ripple effect on global energy markets, freight costs, and fuel availability.

Since the escalation of hostilities in West Asia in late February, shipping movement through the strait has slowed considerably, leaving dozens of commercial vessels stranded amid uncertainty and security alerts.

Energy analysts warn that prolonged disruption in the strait could trigger volatility in crude prices, intensify supply shortages, and place pressure on countries dependent on imports for their fuel requirements.

With tensions continuing to simmer and diplomatic efforts underway, the safety of international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is likely to remain a critical concern for governments and global trade stakeholders in the days ahead.

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