India Summons Iranian Ambassador After Two Indian Tankers Fired At Near Strait Of Hormuz

India on Saturday formally protested to Iran after two Indian-flagged crude oil tankers were fired upon near the Strait of Hormuz, escalating concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in one of the world's most sensitive maritime corridors. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Iranian ambassador Dr Mohammad Fathali in New Delhi in the evening, as Indian authorities moved to gather details of the incident involving the vessels Jag Arnav and Sanmar Herald.

MEA summons Iranian envoy after attack on Indian ships

According to people familiar with the matter, the MEA called in the Iranian ambassador for a meeting at 6:30 pm to register India's formal protest over the firing on the two tankers. Dr Mohammad Fathali met the MEA joint secretary handling the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran desk as New Delhi sought an explanation over the reported action by Iranian forces.

Officials said the two large Indian crude oil tankers, carrying a few million barrels of Iraqi oil, were fired upon by the Iranian Navy north of Oman. The firing came shortly after reports suggested that two Indian ships had been forced to turn back from the Strait of Hormuz. Indian authorities are still trying to determine what triggered the attack on the vessels.

Indian Navy assessing situation as no warship present in Hormuz

The Indian Navy is attempting to verify the exact sequence of events and assess the operational situation in the region. Officials said there is currently no Indian Navy ship deployed inside the Strait of Hormuz itself.

However, India does have a naval presence nearby, with two destroyers, one frigate and one tanker positioned in the Gulf of Oman. The deployment is seen as significant given the rapidly worsening security environment around the chokepoint, where tensions have disrupted global shipping lanes in recent weeks.

Strait of Hormuz tensions flare again after brief reopening

The incident unfolded amid renewed uncertainty over transit through the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran appeared to reverse a temporary reopening announced just a day earlier. The UK Navy reported on Saturday that Iranian gunboats had fired at some ships trying to cross the strait, while merchant vessels also received radio warnings from Iran's navy that the waterway had been shut again and that no ships were allowed to pass, according to Reuters.

Ship-tracking data showed five liquefied natural gas carriers loaded in Ras Laffan, Qatar, approaching the strait on Saturday morning. Yet shipping remained heavily disrupted, with hundreds of vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf since the conflict between the US-Israel and Iran began on February 28. Tehran's earlier closure of the strait had already forced Gulf oil and gas producers to cut output sharply.

Iran had announced a temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on Friday after a separate US-brokered 10-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday. Maritime trackers had even recorded a convoy of eight tankers making their way through the strait, marking the first major movement of ships since the US-Israeli war on Iran began seven weeks ago.

Iran reimposes strict military control, blames US actions

Any optimism over a possible de-escalation faded within hours on Saturday, when Iran's armed forces command declared that transit through the Strait of Hormuz had returned to a state of strict Iranian military control. Tehran cited what it called repeated US violations and acts of "piracy" under the cover of a blockade as the reason for restoring tighter restrictions.

Some vessels reported that Iran's navy was broadcasting a fresh VHF warning to all ships in the area.

"Attention all ships, regarding the failure of the US government to fulfil its commitment in the negotiation, Iran declares the Strait of Hormuz completely closed again. No vessel of any type or nationality is allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz," the radio message said.

The military spokesperson said Iran had earlier agreed, "in good faith," to allow the managed passage of a limited number of oil tankers and commercial vessels following negotiations. But it claimed that continued US pressure and actions had forced Tehran to tighten control over the strategic chokepoint once again.

US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, had spoken of "some pretty good news" on Iran on Friday without offering specifics. He also warned that fighting could resume by Wednesday if no broader peace deal is reached before the current two-week ceasefire expires. Trump further said the US blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until an agreement is secured with Tehran.

Attack raises fresh alarm for Indian energy security

The firing on Jag Arnav and Sanmar Herald has raised immediate concerns in India, given the country's dependence on energy shipments moving through the Strait of Hormuz. With the two tankers carrying Iraqi crude and regional maritime tensions intensifying again, Indian officials are expected to closely monitor developments and consider further diplomatic and naval responses if the situation worsens.

The episode underlines how fragile the situation remains in the Gulf, with even brief openings for commercial shipping vulnerable to sudden reversals amid the broader regional conflict.