Indian Seafarer Killed, Six Indians Injured as UAE Tankers Hit in Strait of Hormuz Amid US-Iran Escalation
One Indian seafarer was killed and six other Indian crew members were injured after two United Arab Emirates (UAE) oil tankers were struck in the Strait of Hormuz in an incident the UAE blamed on Iranian cruise missiles. The attack comes as the United States intensified military operations against Iran, raising fears of a wider conflict across the Gulf. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, the two Emirati tankers were hit while navigating the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz in Omani territorial waters. The strike killed one Indian crew member and injured eight sailors, including six Indians and two Ukrainians. Four of the injured were reported to be in serious condition. Fires broke out on both vessels but were successfully brought under control by their crews.
The attack coincided with a major escalation in the US-Iran confrontation. The United States announced it had resumed a maritime blockade targeting vessels travelling to and from Iranian ports and launched a third consecutive night of strikes against Iranian military targets. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the blockade aims to restrict maritime traffic linked to Iran while allowing commercial vessels complying with the restrictions to continue safe passage through regional waters.
CENTCOM also said American forces had begun another wave of military strikes targeting Iranian capabilities. Earlier operations reportedly included attacks using unmanned surface vessels against a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Iran’s Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first combat use of US attack surface drones.
Iran strongly condemned the renewed US military action. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the American operations in the Strait of Hormuz as “criminal and provocative”, arguing they endangered regional peace and security. Iranian officials also accused Washington of violating a recent understanding between the two countries and insisted Tehran had not breached its commitments.
The maritime confrontation has further heightened concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Around a quarter of global oil trade and roughly one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas shipments normally pass through the narrow waterway, making any disruption a significant risk to international energy markets.
US President Donald Trump also announced a new 20 per cent charge on cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz as part of the renewed blockade, describing the United States as the “Guardian of the Hormuz Strait.” In response, Araghchi said Iran had “always been the guardian of the Strait” and criticised the US move, underscoring the increasingly confrontational rhetoric between Washington and Tehran.
The International Maritime Organization has opposed imposing mandatory transit charges on vessels using the Strait of Hormuz, saying there is no legal basis for such tolls on an international waterway. Meanwhile, commercial shipping continues to face heightened security risks as military operations and diplomatic tensions show little sign of easing.
