New Delhi/Tehran: Iranian gunboats fired on an Indian-flagged tanker, carrying about two million barrels of Iraqi oil, to the north of Oman on Saturday.
New Delhi reacted immediately by summoning Iranian ambassador to India Dr Mohammad Fathali to lodge a formal protest.
Two vessels — Jag Arnav and Sanmar Herald — were involved in the incident, with only one coming under direct attack, as reported by Hindustan Times. According to initial reports, Jag Arnav was fired upon, raising fresh concerns over maritime security in the region, while Sanmar Herald, which was in the vicinity, was not targeted and remained unharmed.
The Indian Navy is trying to ascertain details of the incident, officials said. The Navy has two destroyers, one frigate and a tanker in the Gulf of Oman.
India is taking the firing by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seriously and the country stands for open and free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the officials said. They said that there was another Indian crude oil tanker next to the one that took fire, but it had not been in the incident.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most vital oil transit corridors, through which 20% share of global crude shipments passes.
India is among the countries with the highest number of vessels passing through the strait, reflecting its dependence on energy imports from the Gulf region.
Iran has, amid the war with the US, listed India among friendly nations whose ships it is allowing to cross through the vital strait while keeping others halted with threats of drone-missile attack.
The attack came after Iran declared reimposition of restrictions on the Strait on Saturday, hours after announcing that the channel is open to commercial vessels.
Iran said that it was forced to reimpose restrictions after the US continued to block movement from its ports despite a ceasefire being operational.
US president Donald Trump has said that the naval blockade on Iranian ports will continue till Tehran meets all conditions, including handing over of enriched uranium.
