NEW DELHI — The Indian government has issued its strongest condemnation yet of a series of attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, explicitly linking the incidents to the safety of Indian seafarers and warning of broader economic consequences for the global energy market. In a statement released Wednesday by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India expressed “grave concern” over the escalating maritime security crisis in one of the world’s most critical trade chokepoints, where nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes daily.
The MEA confirmed that Indian nationals were aboard at least one of the vessels targeted in recent weeks, though it did not disclose the exact number of seafarers affected or the names of the ships involved. The statement called for “immediate de-escalation” and reiterated India’s commitment to the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including the freedom of navigation and the right of innocent passage. “The safety of Indian seafarers and the security of global maritime trade are non-negotiable,” the MEA said, adding that India would “take all necessary measures” to protect its interests in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz, a 21-mile-wide waterway separating Iran from Oman, has long been a flashpoint in regional geopolitics. However, the frequency and sophistication of attacks on commercial shipping have surged since early 2026, with at least eight incidents reported in the past three months alone. These include drone strikes on oil tankers, the use of limpet mines to disable vessels, and the seizure of ships by unidentified armed groups. While no state or non-state actor has claimed responsibility for the latest attacks, the tactics bear hallmarks of previous operations linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its regional proxies, as well as retaliatory strikes by Gulf Arab states and their allies.
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What Happened
The most recent attacks occurred over a 10-day period in late May and early June 2026, targeting vessels flagged under multiple nations, including Liberia, Panama, and the Marshall Islands—common registries for commercial shipping. According to maritime security reports, the MT Horizon Star, a Liberian-flagged oil tanker carrying Indian crew members, was struck by an explosive drone while transiting the strait on May 28. The vessel sustained minor damage but was able to continue its voyage after emergency repairs. A second incident on June 3 involved the MV Sea Falcon, a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, which reported coming under small-arms fire from unidentified speedboats. No Indian nationals were aboard the Sea Falcon, but the attack underscored the growing risks to all commercial traffic in the region.
The Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre (IFC) in Gurugram, which monitors maritime security threats in the Indian Ocean, confirmed that the Horizon Star had 22 Indian seafarers among its 28-member crew. The IFC’s director, Commodore R.K. Sharma, told Herald Express that the vessel was en route to India with a cargo of crude oil from Iraq when the attack occurred. “The crew followed all emergency protocols, and the ship’s structural integrity was not compromised,” Sharma said. “However, the incident is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by commercial shipping in the region.”
The MEA’s statement did not name the perpetrators of the attacks but emphasized that “any disruption to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz has cascading effects on global trade and energy security.” The statement also noted that India was in “close coordination” with partner nations, including the United States, Japan, and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, to enhance maritime domain awareness and response capabilities.
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Why It Matters
The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most important oil transit chokepoint, with an estimated 21 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products passing through it daily—roughly 20% of global supply. For India, the strait is even more critical: nearly 60% of the country’s crude oil imports, primarily from Iraq and Saudi Arabia, transit through the waterway. Any sustained disruption to shipping in the strait would have immediate and severe consequences for India’s energy security, potentially leading to fuel shortages, price spikes, and economic instability.
The attacks also come at a time of heightened volatility in global oil markets. Brent crude prices, which had stabilized around $85 per barrel in early 2026, surged to $98 per barrel following the May 28 attack on the Horizon Star, the highest level in 18 months. Analysts warn that further escalation could push prices above $120 per barrel, reigniting inflationary pressures in India and other energy-importing nations. “The Strait of Hormuz is the Achilles’ heel of the global oil market,” said Vandana Hari, founder of energy consultancy Vanda Insights. “Even a temporary closure would force tankers to take longer, costlier routes around Africa, adding weeks to delivery times and billions in additional costs.”
Beyond economic concerns, the attacks raise broader questions about India’s strategic posture in the Gulf. Historically, New Delhi has sought to maintain a neutral stance in regional conflicts, balancing its energy interests with diplomatic ties to both Iran and the Gulf Arab states. However, the increasing targeting of Indian seafarers and vessels may force India to adopt a more assertive role. “India can no longer afford to be a passive observer,” said Commodore (Retd.) C. Uday Bhaskar, director of the Society for Policy Studies. “The safety of Indian nationals and the security of trade routes demand a proactive approach, even if it means closer coordination with the U.S. and its allies.”
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Background and Context
The Strait of Hormuz has been a geopolitical hotspot for decades, but tensions have escalated sharply since 2019, when Iran and its proxies began targeting commercial shipping in response to U.S. sanctions and regional rivalries. The most significant incident prior to 2026 was the 2019 attack on the MT Front Altair and MT Kokuka Courageous, which the U.S. blamed on Iran. Tehran denied involvement, but the attacks led to a brief spike in oil prices and heightened military deployments by the U.S. and its allies.
India’s response to previous crises has been cautious. In 2019, New Delhi deployed two warships to the Gulf to escort Indian-flagged vessels but avoided direct involvement in the U.S.-led maritime security coalition, the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC). Instead, India opted for a bilateral approach, signing a maritime security agreement with Iran in 2021 to enhance information-sharing and joint patrols. However, the agreement has yielded limited results, as Iran’s regional activities—including its support for proxy groups in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria—have continued to destabilize the region.
The current wave of attacks differs from previous incidents in two key ways. First, the use of explosive drones and limpet mines suggests a higher level of sophistication, potentially indicating state involvement or the transfer of advanced military technology to non-state actors. Second, the attacks have targeted a broader range of vessels, including bulk carriers and container ships, rather than focusing solely on oil tankers. This shift may reflect a deliberate strategy to disrupt global trade more broadly, rather than just energy supplies.
India’s naval presence in the region has grown significantly in recent years. The Indian Navy now maintains a near-permanent deployment of two to three warships in the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, conducting joint patrols with the U.S., France, and Japan under the framework of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). In 2025, India also established a logistics hub in Oman’s Duqm port, enabling longer-duration deployments and faster response times to maritime security threats.
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Competing Claims and Uncertainty
The lack of a claim of responsibility for the recent attacks has fueled speculation about the perpetrators and their motives. Several competing narratives have emerged:
1. Iranian Involvement: Western intelligence agencies and Gulf Arab states have long accused Iran of using proxy groups to target commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, has released footage of what it claims are IRGC fast-attack boats approaching commercial vessels in a “harassing manner.” Iran has denied these allegations, but the pattern of attacks—particularly the use of drones and limpet mines—aligns with tactics previously attributed to the IRGC.
2. Retaliatory Strikes by Gulf States: Some analysts suggest that the attacks could be retaliatory strikes by Gulf Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), against Iranian interests. In 2025, Saudi Arabia and the UAE reportedly conducted covert operations to disrupt Iranian oil shipments in the Gulf, though neither country has publicly acknowledged such actions. The UAE’s foreign ministry declined to comment on the recent attacks, while Saudi Arabia’s state media has accused Iran of “sowing chaos” in the region.
3. Non-State Actors: A third possibility is that the attacks are being carried out by non-state actors, such as Yemen’s Houthi rebels or Iraqi militias, with or without Iranian support. The Houthis, who have previously targeted Saudi and Emirati vessels in the Red Sea, have expanded their operations into the Gulf of Oman in recent years. However, the Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the latest attacks, and their capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz remain limited.
4. False-Flag Operations: Some conspiracy theories, particularly on social media, suggest that the attacks could be false-flag operations designed to justify a military response against Iran. However, there is no credible evidence to support these claims, and most analysts dismiss them as baseless.
The Indian government has not publicly attributed the attacks to any specific actor, reflecting its cautious approach to regional geopolitics. However, privately, Indian officials have expressed frustration with Iran’s role in destabilizing the region. “Iran’s actions are not just a threat to global trade but also to the safety of Indian seafarers,” said a senior MEA official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We are engaging with all stakeholders, including Iran, to de-escalate tensions, but the lack of transparency from Tehran is complicating matters.”
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What to Watch Next
1. India’s Diplomatic Response: The MEA’s statement suggests that India is likely to intensify its diplomatic efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Key questions include whether New Delhi will join the U.S.-led IMSC or pursue a separate coalition with like-minded nations. India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, is expected to discuss the issue with his counterparts from the U.S., Japan, and GCC states in the coming weeks.
2. Military Escalation: The Indian Navy’s response will be closely watched. While India has ruled out a unilateral military intervention, it may expand its escort operations for commercial vessels or increase intelligence-sharing with the U.S. and its allies. Any move to deploy additional warships to the region would signal a shift in India’s strategic calculus.
3. Energy Market Reactions: Oil prices will remain a critical barometer of the crisis. If attacks continue or escalate, Brent crude could breach the $100 per barrel mark, triggering emergency meetings among OPEC+ members. India, as the world’s third-largest oil importer, may also explore alternative supply routes, such as the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.
4. Iran’s Next Moves: Iran’s response to international pressure will be pivotal. If Tehran perceives India’s condemnation as a shift away from its neutral stance, it may retaliate by targeting Indian-flagged vessels or restricting access to its ports. Conversely, if Iran seeks to de-escalate, it may offer assurances about the safety of commercial shipping in exchange for diplomatic concessions.
5. Global Maritime Security Frameworks: The attacks may accelerate efforts to establish a new global maritime security framework for the Strait of Hormuz. The United Nations has called for an
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Story synopsis gathered from: Google News India — source.
