India Protests Iran Fire on Two Vessels in Strait of Hormuz

India’s capital, New Delhi, called on Iran’s envoy following an attack on two vessels under its flag. The incident occurred as the ships attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway. DW provides the most recent updates on the situation.

On Sunday, April 19, India expressed its concerns regarding the attack. The Iranian Supreme Leader’s representative in New Delhi emphasized that relations between the Islamic Republic and India remain robust, despite the reported incident. “The relationship between Iran and India is very strong, and I don’t know anything about this event you mentioned. We hope it will be resolved soon,” Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi stated to ANI.

“We don’t want this war. We want peace, and we hope the other side will also embrace peace so that we can have a peaceful area,” Ilahi added, calling for calm in the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran.

India’s foreign ministry summoned Iran’s ambassador, Mohammad Fathali, for a meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. The discussion was aimed at formally protesting the incident. A ministry statement highlighted Misri’s emphasis on the importance of merchant shipping safety, noting that Tehran had previously allowed the passage of multiple Indian vessels.

TankerTrackers.com reported that Iran’s Sepah (IRGC) Navy forced two Indian vessels westward out of the Strait of Hormuz. One of the ships was identified as an Indian-flagged VLCC supertanker transporting 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil. The vessels were part of a group attempting to navigate through the strait after Iran announced its reopening on Friday. However, by Saturday, Iran had reinstated its blockade on the critical waterway.

Meanwhile, India’s Vice President, C P Radhakrishnan, is visiting Sri Lanka for a two-day mission to strengthen bilateral connections. In domestic politics, preparations are underway for upcoming state assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold four rallies in the eastern state of West Bengal today.