New Delhi, Jul 14: One Indian seafarer was killed and 10 other Indian crew members were injured after two UAE tankers were hit in the Strait of Hormuz, as the United States resumed its maritime blockade of Iranian ports and launched a third consecutive night of strikes on Iran, sharply escalating tensions across the Gulf.
According to the BBC, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for striking two UAE tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The United Arab Emirates described the attack as “brazen”.
India strongly condemned the attacks. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said one of the 12 Indian nationals aboard MT Al Bahiyah was killed, while another was injured. Of the 18 Indians on MT Mombasa, nine sustained injuries, including two who were seriously hurt. The MEA said India’s Mission and Post in the UAE were in touch with the local authorities to ensure all possible assistance to the affected seafarers.
It also summoned the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi and lodged a “strong protest” over the attacks. The BBC reported that the IRGC also claimed overnight attacks on US military facilities in Jordan and Bahrain, signalling a widening of the regional conflict beyond the Gulf.
The US military, meanwhile, said it had completed another round of strikes aimed at degrading “Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping”. Iranian state media reported that at least three people were killed in the overnight strikes.
Several explosions were reported near the strategic port city of Bandar Abbas, while Iran’s official news agency IRNA said four locations in Bushehr province were struck by projectiles.
The Fars news agency reported explosions in Hormozgan province, and state broadcaster IRIB said members of the family of an environmentalist were among those killed in the strikes. Earlier, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that, on the direction of President Donald Trump, American forces had resumed a naval blockade of Iranian ports from July 14 and launched a third consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets.
CENTCOM said the operations were intended to impose “a heavy cost” on Iranian forces and reduce their capability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
It said that commercial vessels complying with the blockade would continue to receive safe passage through regional waters.
According to the BBC, US President Donald Trump also announced a 20 percent charge on cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz, saying the US would act as the “Guardian of the Hormuz Strait”, while expressing optimism that a negotiated settlement with Tehran remained possible.
Iran strongly rejected the US move. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the renewed US military operations as “criminal and provocative”, saying they had endangered regional peace and security.
He accused Washington of violating last month’s understanding between the two countries. In a post on X, Araghchi responded to Trump’s remarks by saying Iran had “always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER,” while sarcastically suggesting that Tehran would be “fairer” than Washington over any transit charges.
The renewed confrontation has intensified concerns over freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.
Around a quarter of global seaborne oil trade and nearly one-fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas shipments pass through the narrow waterway.
Reflecting market anxiety, benchmark Brent crude rose more than 3 percent to USD 86.07 a barrel, according to the BBC.
The International Maritime Organisation has also opposed the proposed 20 percent transit charge, saying there is “no legal basis” under international law for imposing mandatory tolls on vessels using an international waterway, Reuters reported.
The latest exchange of military action has raised fresh concerns that the conflict could spill over into a wider regional confrontation, threatening global energy supplies and commercial shipping through one of the world’s busiest trade routes.
