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Iranian state television claimed that a tanker struck in the Strait of Hormuz was sinking, though details remain unclear
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The strait handles around a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil, raising fears of further disruption as the conflict deepens
An Indian sailor has been killed after an oil tanker was struck by a bomb-carrying drone boat in the Gulf of Oman, marking the first reported Indian casualty in the ongoing US-Iran conflict.
Oman’s state news agency confirmed that the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MKD VYOM was hit off the coast of Muscat on 1 March. The vessel suffered an explosion and fire after being struck by what was described as a suspected projectile. The ship’s manager, V.Ships Asia, said the crew member who died was in the engine room at the time of the blast. His nationality was later confirmed as Indian.
The attack comes amid rising tensions in the region following airstrikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on US bases and other targets across the Middle East. Iran has repeatedly warned ships against approaching the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said recent strikes, including one near Duqm port in Oman, were not the government’s preferred course of action. He added that the armed forces were acting independently under general instructions.
In a separate incident, another tanker, Skylight, was hit near Khasab off Oman’s Musandam peninsula. According to Oman’s Maritime Security Centre, the vessel had 20 crew members, including 15 Indians and five Iranians. Four people were injured. The crew was evacuated safely.
Meanwhile, Iranian state television claimed that a tanker struck in the Strait of Hormuz was sinking, though details remain unclear. The strait handles around a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil, raising fears of further disruption as the conflict deepens.
