New Delhi: In a swift response to the incident, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday summoned Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, for a high-level meeting with the Foreign Secretary in New Delhi. During the meeting, India conveyed its “deep concern” over the firing incident that took place earlier in the day, stressing the importance it places on the safety and security of merchant shipping and seafarers.

According to official sources, two Indian-flagged vessels came under fire from Iranian gunboats while transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route for global oil trade. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the ships did not sustain any physical damage. However, both vessels were forced to turn back following the incident, which occurred northeast of Oman along a key shipping lane.

One of the vessels involved was identified as a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), a class of massive oil tankers designed for long-distance transportation of crude oil, underscoring the potential seriousness of the situation had the incident escalated.

During the diplomatic exchange, India also recalled Iran’s past cooperation in ensuring safe passage for vessels bound for Indian ports. Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, the Foreign Secretary urged the Iranian envoy to communicate India’s concerns to authorities in Tehran and to expedite the resumption of facilitation for India-bound ships through the Strait.

The Iranian Ambassador assured Indian officials that the concerns raised would be conveyed to the relevant authorities in Iran.