India protests after US strike on tanker off Oman leaves crew missing

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) – India summoned the top U.S. diplomat in New Delhi after an American military strike on a commercial tanker off the coast of Oman left several crew members missing, escalating tensions over Washington’s enforcement of its maritime blockade against Iran.

Indian External Affairs Ministry sources said Jason Meeks, the U.S. Embassy’s chargé d’affaires, was called in to formally protest the attack on the vessel Settebello, which was operating in waters near Oman when it was struck.

The protest came after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) acknowledged that American forces had disabled an oil tanker late Tuesday, alleging that the vessel had violated the ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil connected to Iran.

Maritime security organizations said the tanker was likely hit by a U.S. missile. British maritime security firm Ambrey described the incident as consistent with previous U.S. operations aimed at enforcing restrictions on Iran-related shipping. 

Another maritime security source also assessed that the vessel had been struck by American forces.

According to maritime officials, two crew members were initially reported missing and one sailor was injured following the strike. Indian authorities later said three Indian nationals remained unaccounted for.

India’s Foreign Ministry said 24 Indian sailors were among the vessel’s 28-member crew. Of those, 21 Indians had been rescued, while efforts were continuing to locate the remaining three crew members.

The Palau-flagged chemical and oil products tanker reported an engine room fire approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of the Omani port of Sohar after the incident. Maritime monitoring agencies identified the vessel as the Settebello.

British maritime risk consultancy Vanguard said the Omani Navy responded to the distress call and assisted rescue efforts. The vessel’s operator, based in India, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Shipping data showed the tanker was partially loaded and had last been tracked off Oman’s coast on June 1.

The strike occurred amid a broader U.S. campaign targeting vessels accused of violating Washington’s blockade of Iran-related shipping. The operation began on April 13 after Iran significantly restricted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil and gas transit routes.

CENTCOM said on June 8 that U.S. forces had disabled seven vessels deemed non-compliant with the blockade, redirected 134 others, and permitted 42 ships carrying humanitarian cargo to continue their voyages.

Earlier this week, U.S. forces also disabled the oil tanker Marivex in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly attempted to enter an Iranian port in violation of the restrictions.

The blockade has increasingly affected a range of vessels, including Iranian ships and so-called shadow fleet tankers commonly used to transport sanctioned oil under various national flags.

The latest incident has renewed concerns about the safety of civilian seafarers operating in regional waters. International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez on Tuesday urged all parties to avoid actions that endanger commercial crews.

“The protection of their lives must remain the overriding priority at all times,” he said.