DUBAI: Two Indian ships were “forced back west out of the Strait of Hormuz” after coming under fire from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy on Saturday, NDTV reported.
The two ships had to turn back following the incident northeast of Oman in the shipping lane critical for the oil trade.
The Indian vessels were carrying crude oil at the time of the incident.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the incident took place 20 nautical miles off the north-east coast of Oman. The tanker and crew have been reported safe, UKMTO adds.
Tehran’s ambassador to New Delhi, Mohammad Fathali, was called in for a meeting with India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during which Misri conveyed India’s deep concern at the shooting incident involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Misri 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.
India summoned Iran’s ambassador in New Delhi for a meeting with the foreign secretary following a shooting incident earlier in the day involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
In its statement the Foreign Ministry said, “during the meeting, the 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 stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of merchant shipping and mariners.
“Reiterating his concern at this serious incident of firing on merchant ships, the 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,” it added.
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