Indian Crew Killed in Strait of Hormuz Ship Attack; India Summons Iranian Diplomat in Protest

Key News on U.S.-Iran Conflict

Central News Agency (New Delhi, 14th – international wire reports)

India's Ministry of External Affairs announced today that it has summoned a senior Iranian diplomat stationed in New Delhi to protest the 'strongly condemned' attack on two merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which resulted in the death of one Indian crew member and injuries to several others.

According to AFP, India's Ministry of External Affairs stated in a press release that the two merchant vessels carried a total of 46 crew members, 30 of whom were Indian nationals.

The statement read: 'India expresses deep concern over the attacks today on the MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa, two oil tankers transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.'

Iran's embassy in India declined to comment when approached by AFP.

India and Iran share deep-rooted cultural and trade ties spanning centuries, while modern diplomatic relations strive to balance strategic interests amid geopolitical pressures.

The ship attacks come shortly after the United States launched a fresh round of airstrikes on Tehran, signaling a renewed escalation in hostilities across the Middle East.

According to statistics from India's Ministry of Shipping, India had over 320,000 active seafarers in 2025, making it one of the world's largest sources of merchant marine crew.

To reduce maritime safety risks for its seafarers, India's Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced the launch of the 'Seafarer-First' initiative—a coordinated emergency response mechanism aimed at 'protecting Indian seafarers operating in conflict-affected regions.'

In a late-night statement, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways said the new mechanism would 'establish a comprehensive operational dashboard to track every Indian national on board any vessel operating in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman, regardless of the vessel's flag.'

India's Ministry of External Affairs also called for an immediate cessation of violence and urged a return to dialogue and diplomatic channels 'in accordance with international law.'

Separately, another merchant vessel carrying 11 Indian crew members was attacked off the coast of Oman on the 12th. Ten of the Indian crew have been rescued, but one remains missing.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global shipping chokepoint. Prior to the U.S.-Iran conflict in February, approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas passed through this strait daily to global markets. (Compiled by: Zhang Mingxuan) 1150715

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