NEW DELHI: India on Saturday summoned Iran’s ambassador to New Delhi after gunboats linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired on Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing the ships to turn back but causing no reported injuries, the foreign ministry said.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that Iran’s Ambassador to India, Dr. Mohammad Fathali, was called in for a meeting with the Foreign Secretary on the evening of April 18, where New Delhi lodged a “strong protest” and conveyed “deep concern” over the safety of Indian ships and seafarers. India urged Iran to ensure safe and uninterrupted passage for India-bound vessels and to quickly resume facilitation measures, the MEA said.
Multiple Indian and international outlets, as well as the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), reported the incidents, saying IRGC-linked boats opened fire — described in some accounts as warning shots — on at least one or two Indian-flagged ships attempting to transit the strait. Reports named the tanker Sanmar Herald and cited another vessel, Jag Annapurna, among those affected. The vessels were reportedly forced to turn back; there were no immediate reports of major damage or crew injuries.
The episode came shortly after Iranian authorities announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for commercial traffic amid heightened regional tensions, and subsequen imposition of restrictions. There was no official Iranian confirmation widely reported regarding the firing.
Middle East observers believe India’s diplomatic protest underscores growing concern in New Delhi about navigation safety in a strategically vital waterway through which a large share of its crude and commerce passes.
