Iranian Coast Guard Fires on Togo-Flagged Tanker With Indian Crew Near Oman
NEW DELHI — The Iranian coast guard fired warning shots at a Togo-flagged chemical tanker carrying Indian crew members near Oman, according to India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, raising fresh concerns over maritime security in the region.
The vessel, identified as MT Siron, was approached and boarded by individuals at the Shinas Outer Port limits on April 25. The incident occurred while the tanker was in proximity to other ships, prompting intervention by Iranian forces.
Mandeep Singh Randhawa, a director at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said during an inter-ministerial briefing that Iranian coast guard personnel fired warning shots during the encounter.
He said the ministry is working closely with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions abroad and maritime stakeholders to ensure the safety of seafarers and maintain operational continuity in West Asian waters.
According to Randhawa, the Directorate General of Shipping control room has handled 7,780 calls and 16,650 emails, while maintaining contact with 2,770 Indian ships. Of those, 12 vessels have reported updates.
“The situation is under close watch, with no cause for concern at present,” he said.
The incident follows a series of recent attacks involving vessels linked to India in the region. On April 22, Iran targeted a ship in the Strait of Hormuz that was en route to Mundra Port in Gujarat, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an indefinite ceasefire.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N) later said it had attacked and seized two ships, identifying them as MSC Francesca and Epaminondas, according to state-run Press TV.
Shipping monitoring services reported that the Liberian-flagged Epaminondas had been traveling from Jebel Ali port in Dubai to Mundra when it was targeted.
Earlier, on April 18, two Indian vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz were attacked despite having clearance to pass through. India lodged a formal protest with Tehran over those incidents.
The IRGC-N said the vessels were targeted for “operating without authorization.” A British naval monitoring organization also confirmed that two ships were fired upon by Iranian gunboats, with one vessel immobilized and the other sustaining damage. (Source: IANS)
