Indian Crew Safe After Tanker Attack in Iranian Waters; Second Attack Kills One
An LPG tanker with 28 Indian crew members on board came under attack in Iranian territorial waters on Friday, the Indian Embassy in Tehran confirmed. All crew members are safe, and the embassy is in close contact with relevant authorities.
The Mozambique-flagged vessel, named DISHA, was attacked earlier in the day. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the embassy stated: 'The Embassy of India in Tehran is aware that the Mozambique-flagged LPG tanker DISHA came under attack in Iranian territorial waters earlier today. The vessel has 28 Indian crew members on board. The Embassy has been in close contact with the relevant authorities and has confirmed that all Indian crew members are safe.'
The embassy did not provide details about the nature of the attack or the condition of the vessel, but said it continues to monitor the situation closely.
The attack comes amid heightened regional tensions. On Thursday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated India's stance that 'under no circumstances can attacks on seafarers, civilian shipping or infrastructure be countenanced.' He stressed that international waterways must remain safe and unimpeded in accordance with international law.
In a separate incident, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Friday that an Indian national was killed after a commercial vessel was attacked near Russia in the Black Sea. The vessel, MV OMORFI, came under attack on July 18 while transiting the Black Sea, reportedly in Russian territorial waters. The ship had 10 crew members on board, including three Indian nationals. The MEA said, 'As per available information, one Indian national tragically lost his life in the attack. We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family of the victim.' The other two Indian nationals are reported to be safe.
India has consistently condemned attacks on civilian shipping and seafarers, calling for adherence to international law to ensure the safety of maritime routes.
