U.S. Attacks Tanker Suspected of Violating Iran Blockade, Three Indian Crew Members Killed

India said this morning, Thursday, that three Indian crew members were killed aboard the oil tanker attacked yesterday by the United States in the Gulf of Oman, after Washington said it had violated the naval blockade it imposed on Iran. Until now, the three had been listed as missing, but authorities in New Delhi said the bodies of two of them had been located and recovered, while the third has not yet been found. The report was carried by ynet. The incident is expected to intensify tensions between the United States and India, which are regarded as close allies. Following the incident, the deputy head of the U.S. embassy in New Delhi was summoned for a clarification meeting at the Indian Foreign Ministry, during which a “strong protest” was conveyed to him. India’s shipping minister referred to the incident and called it “very unfortunate.”

The three killed were among 24 Indian crew members aboard the oil tanker MT Settebello, which sails under the flag of Palau. According to the U.S. military, the vessel was attacked after it did not comply with instructions from American forces and tried to transfer oil from Iran in violation of the blockade imposed by Washington. In a statement published by U.S. Central Command on X, it said an American aircraft fired “precision munitions” at the tanker’s engine room, after the crew “repeatedly failed” to comply with instructions given to it.

This is the second tanker this week with an Indian crew to be hit in an American operation. On Monday, the oil tanker The Marivex, which also flew the Palau flag and was sailing in the Gulf of Oman, was attacked. According to the United States, that ship also did not respond to orders to stop. All 24 Indian crew members aboard were safely rescued by Omani military forces.

The incident comes amid growing American involvement in the Middle East. After weeks of a naval blockade on Iran, which Washington says is causing significant economic damage to the Islamic Republic, the United States launched another wave of strikes against targets in Iran overnight, the second in two days. At the same time, President Donald Trump threatened that additional strikes could also be carried out the following night. According to the United States, the strikes are intended to pressure Tehran following a lack of progress in talks between the sides and amid the feeling in the White House that Iran is buying time. The naval blockade imposed by Washington is intended, among other things, to force Iran to retract its declaration that it intends to control traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and charge fees to ships passing through the area. The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the world’s most important shipping routes, with about a fifth of global oil supplies passing through it. Since the blockade took effect on April 13, the United States has stopped eight ships and caused 134 additional vessels to change course and choose alternative shipping routes. The Indian government criticized these steps and said that “the harm to commercial ships and civilian infrastructure in the area must stop.”