India on Thursday sharply condemned the targeting of an Indian-flagged commercial vessel near the coast of Oman, warning against attacks on civilian shipping as tensions continue to rise across the Gulf region and key maritime corridors linked to the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of External Affairs described the incident as “unacceptable” and reiterated New Delhi’s position that international commercial navigation routes must remain secure despite the worsening security climate in West Asia.
In an official statement, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India remained deeply concerned over repeated incidents involving civilian vessels and merchant crews operating near critical shipping lanes. “The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable, and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” the statement said. The ministry confirmed that all Indian crew members aboard the vessel were safe after intervention by Omani authorities.
“All Indian crew on board are safe, and we thank the Omani authorities for rescuing them,” Jaiswal added. The incident comes at a time when maritime security across the Gulf has deteriorated sharply amid continuing instability linked to the wider Iran-West Asia conflict and growing concerns surrounding vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most strategically vital energy corridors.
New Delhi also used the occasion to reiterate its long-standing position on freedom of navigation and the protection of civilian maritime commerce. “India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided,” the MEA statement noted.
India’s response reflects broader anxieties within regional shipping and energy sectors as attacks, interceptions and maritime security alerts continue to increase near the Gulf of Oman and adjoining waters.
The Strait of Hormuz remains particularly sensitive because nearly one-fifth of globally traded crude oil passes through the narrow maritime chokepoint. Any escalation affecting vessel movement through the corridor carries immediate implications for global energy prices, shipping insurance rates and commercial supply chains.
Indian strategic planners have been monitoring developments closely given the country’s heavy dependence on energy imports routed through the Gulf region. The Indian Navy has also significantly expanded operational surveillance across the Arabian Sea and adjoining maritime zones in recent years.
The diplomatic statement from New Delhi came shortly after the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a separate advisory involving another vessel incident near the United Arab Emirates.
According to UKMTO, authorities received reports concerning a vessel approximately 38 nautical miles northeast of Fujairah. The advisory stated that the ship’s Company Security Officer reported the vessel had been boarded by “unauthorised personnel” while anchored and was subsequently moving towards Iranian territorial waters.
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