New Delhi, July 15: India on Tuesday summoned the Deputy Head of the Iranian Embassy and lodged a strong protest following the reported attack on two United Arab Emirates (UAE) commercial oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, in which an Indian crew member from Bihar was killed and several others, including six Indians, were injured.
According to the information released, the two UAE tankers—Mombasa and Al Bahiyah—were carrying a total of 30 Indian crew members when they allegedly came under attack on Monday night. The incident claimed the life of Rohan Gupta, an Indian sailor from Bihar, while eight crew members sustained injuries, including six Indians and two Ukrainian nationals. Two of the injured Indians are reported to be in critical condition.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India conveyed its strong displeasure over the incident to the Iranian mission and urged an immediate halt to attacks on commercial vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “The Deputy Head of the Iranian Embassy was summoned and India’s strong displeasure over the killing of an Indian national in the attack was conveyed. Such incidents should not happen again.”
He added, “One of the vessels had 12 Indian crew members, while the other had 18 Indian crew members.”
According to the report, the UAE Ministry of Defence said the tankers were transiting the southern Strait of Hormuz in Omani waters when they were struck by two cruise missiles.
In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence said, “The national tankers ‘Mombasa’ and ‘Al Bahiyah’ were passing through the southern Strait of Hormuz in Omani waters when two cruise missiles were fired at them, causing fires on both vessels. The fires were later brought under control.”
The reported attack comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia, with the report claiming that 13 Indian nationals have lost their lives in attacks linked to the ongoing regional conflict so far, while three remain missing and more than two dozen have been injured.
The report further stated that India had earlier summoned a US diplomat over attacks affecting Indian nationals and reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of its citizens in the conflict-hit region.
Amid concerns over Indian strategic interests, the report said India’s operations at the Shahid Beheshti Terminal at Chabahar Port remain unaffected despite earlier reports suggesting damage.
Separately, the report said US President Donald Trump indicated that Iran and Hezbollah could be included in a Russia sanctions bill currently under consideration in the US Congress.
Note: The claims in this report are based on the information provided and involve a major international security incident. Independent verification from official government statements and multiple credible sources is advised before publication.
