India on Saturday called in Iran’s Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Fathali for meeting with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri after two Indian-flagged supertankers came under gunfire from IRGC gunboats while attempting to pass the Strait of Hormuz.
India conveys ‘deep concern’ after ship shot at in Hormuz
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Foreign Secretary expressed “deep concern” over the incident, and urged Tehran’s envoy to convey India’s views and resume the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait.
“During the meeting, Foreign Secretary conveyed India’s deep concern at the shooting incident earlier today involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said, adding that Misri highlighted the importance India attaches to to the safety of merchant shipping and mariners.
“Reiterating his concern at this serious incident of firing on merchant ships, Foreign Secretary urged the Ambassador to convey India’s views to the authorities in Iran and resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait,” according to the statement.
Indian-flagged vessels forced to turn back by IRGC
Earlier, reports came in that two Indian-flagged vessels were fired at by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy, and forced back west out of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre, two merchant vessels, including an Indian-flagged tanker, came under fire from gunboats operated by the IRGC Navy, while the ships were attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
As per a Reuters report, multiple vessels turned back after they came under fire when crossing the strait between the Larak and Qeshm islands. A container ship was reportedly hit in the gunfire, and some ships received VHF broadcasts announcing that the Strait of Hormuz is “completely closed again”, it said.
“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 message said.
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Iran shuts Hormuz citing US ‘piracy’
The development comes after Iran on Saturday announced that the Strait of Hormuz has reverted to its “previous state” of strict military control, as it was before the ceasefire deal with Israel and Lebanon, citing violations by the United States under its continued blockade of Iranian ports, despite Tehran earlier announcing the reopening of the waterway.
In a statement, the spokesperson of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said Tehran had agreed in good faith to allow limited and managed passage of oil tankers and commercial vessels through the strategic strait following negotiations but the US continued to engage in “piracy and banditry”.