Indian cargo vessel sinks near Hormuz after suspected drone attack, as Iranian FM attends BRICS meet in India

14/05/2026

Indian cargo vessel sinks near Hormuz after suspected drone attack, as Iranian FM attends BRICS meet in India

NEW DELHI, May 14: An Indian-flagged cargo ship sank off the coast of Oman after a suspected drone attack sparked a fire aboard the vessel, Indian authorities said on Thursday, coinciding with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to New Delhi for a meeting of BRICS foreign ministers.

The vessel, identified as MSV Haji Ali, was traveling from Somalia to Sharjah on Wednesday when it came under attack, although India did not identify who was responsible. London-based maritime security firm Windward said the 57-meter ship later sank near the Strait of Hormuz, while all crew members were rescued safely. The firm added that the vessel’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) had been switched off during the incident.

Meanwhile, BRICS foreign ministers opened a two-day meeting in New Delhi amid growing tensions linked to the Iran conflict and the ongoing blockade around the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments. In his opening remarks, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stressed the need for “safe, unimpeded maritime flows” through international waters.

Araghchi urged fellow BRICS nations to condemn the United States and Israel over what he described as “unlawful aggression” against Tehran. The meeting comes as the BRICS bloc faces internal divisions over the Iran conflict, with India balancing ties between Iran, the UAE and Israel.