India summons US envoy over strike on tanker carrying Indian sailors
The Indian government has summoned the US deputy chief of mission following a US Central Command strike on the Palau-flagged Settebello, which was transporting Iranian oil.
India has summoned Jason Meeks, the US Embassy’s deputy chief of mission in New Delhi, to formally protest a US military strike on the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello off the coast of Oman. The incident has intensified diplomatic friction between the two nations, with New Delhi condemning the attack as a direct threat to commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure.
US Central Command stated it carried out a precision strike on the vessel as it transited the Gulf of Oman transporting Iranian oil, alleging the crew failed to comply with instructions. The Settebello, a chemical and oil products tanker, reported an engine room fire 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s port of Sohar. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed the distress call, which was responded to by the Omani navy.
Twenty-one Indian sailors were rescued by Omani authorities, while three remain missing. India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the summoning of Meeks and stated that its embassy in Oman is coordinating with Omani authorities on the search and rescue operation. The ministry described the targeting of commercial shipping as unacceptable and called for an immediate end to such actions in the region.
The International Maritime Organization also condemned the incident. Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that any act endangering the lives of seafarers is unacceptable, expressing solidarity with the families of the missing crew members. The condemnation underscores growing international concern over the safety of maritime routes amid escalating regional hostilities.
The strike has reignited legal and ethical debates surrounding the US naval blockade of Iran, ordered by President Donald Trump in mid-April to force Tehran to accept terms for ending the war that began on 28 February. The blockade has significantly reduced Iran’s oil exports, though Iranian officials have not capitulated to Washington’s demands.
India-US relations are already at their lowest point in decades, and this incident adds further strain. The Indian government faced mounting pressure from the opposition to publicly challenge the US, following a failure to protest a separate attack by US forces on a vessel carrying Indian sailors earlier in the week. Since the conflict commenced, at least two other Indian-flagged vessels have been struck, prompting India to summon the Iranian ambassador in April.
