17 Indian crew safe after Iranian Coast Guard fires warning shots at tanker

New Delhi: A Togo-flagged chemical tanker, MT Chiron-7, carrying 17 Indian crew members, was intercepted and fired upon with warning shots by the Iranian Coast Guard near the coast of Oman on April 25.

The incident occurred southeast of the Strait of Hormuz, close to Oman's Shinas Port, as the vessel was attempting to cross the area along with other ships.

According to the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Iranian Coast Guard intercepted the tanker and fired warning shots. All 17 Indian crew members are reported to be safe.

"The Ministry is in continuous contact with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions abroad, and maritime stakeholders. We remain fully committed to the safety of Indian seafarers and the smooth continuation of maritime operations," Mandeep Singh Randhawa, Director at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways told media people.

The episode has raised fresh concerns over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical choke point where both Iran and the United States are currently enforcing their respective restrictions and blockades.

Randhawa added that no untoward incidents involving Indian nationals working in the region have been reported in the past 24 hours. Since the activation of the shipping control room, authorities have handled over 7,780 calls and around 16,000 emails.

More than 2,000 Indians have been safely evacuated from various parts of the Gulf so far. All Indian ports are functioning normally with no disruptions reported.

This latest incident comes days after Iranian forces fired upon three foreign-flagged vessels last week, two of which had a total of 22 Indian seafarers on board. On April 18, two India-flagged vessels were also reportedly fired upon by the Iranian navy.

India had strongly protested the incidents and conveyed its "deep concern" to Iranian authorities through Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, urging them to ensure the safety of mariners and uphold freedom of navigation in international waters.