18/04/2026
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18/04/2026
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NEW DELHI, Apr 18: The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday summoned Iran’s ambassador to New Delhi following an incident in which Iranian forces reportedly opened fire on two Indian-flagged oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz.
According to officials familiar with the matter, Iranian envoy Mohammad Fathali met senior MEA officials, including the Foreign Secretary, to discuss the incident. During the meeting, India conveyed its “deep concern” over the firing on merchant vessels and stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of global shipping and seafarers.
In an official statement, the ministry said India urged Tehran to take immediate steps to guarantee safe passage for India-bound ships through the vital corridor, recalling that Iran had previously facilitated secure transit for vessels heading to India. The Iranian ambassador, in response, assured that India’s concerns would be communicated to the authorities in Iran.
Sources said the two vessels involved were large crude carriers transporting millions of barrels of Iraqi oil and were targeted north of Oman before being forced to turn back. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region, raising fresh concerns over the security of energy shipments through one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.
