A commercial ship, MT El Gaia, was attacked off the coast of Oman on Sunday. There were 14 Indians on board.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said 13 Indian crew members have been rescued. One Indian remains missing and a search operation is underway.
The MEA condemned the attack and said rescue efforts are ongoing to locate the missing Indian.
According to the ministry, the Indian Embassy in Oman is monitoring the situation and remains in constant contact with Omani authorities.
Iranian ship also attacked in Strait of Hormuz
India’s statement came at a time when reports emerged of an attack on an Iranian cargo ship near Iran’s Qeshm Island on Sunday morning. The area falls within the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Iranian state media, one person was killed and four others were injured in the attack. The ship caught fire following the attack, and an evacuation operation was launched.
Qeshm Governor Hossein Amirteimouri told Tasnim that the ship was attacked with a projectile. He blamed the US for the attack.
Hours before the attack, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on social media that the people of Iran cannot be forced to bow under pressure. He said, “Iran will not surrender.”
Report: Iran, Oman agree on new route through Strait of Hormuz
Iran and Oman have reached an agreement on the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian news agency Tasnim, citing Iranian officials, reported that the two countries have finalised the route for ships entering and leaving the Strait of Hormuz.
Gulf countries will be informed about the agreement at a regional meeting to be held in Oman’s capital Muscat on Monday.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said foreign ministers of Arab countries in the region will meet in Oman. The meeting will seek to reach an agreement on the route through the Strait of Hormuz. The arrangement will then be communicated to the International Maritime Organization.
New route entirely within Iranian waters
Under the new agreement, the route for ships entering the Strait of Hormuz from the Gulf countries will lie entirely within Iran’s territorial waters. Part of the route for ships exiting the strait will also remain within Iranian territorial waters, according to Tasnim, citing Iranian sources.
Once the arrangement is agreed upon, the southern route through the Strait of Hormuz will be closed directly. This is against the US demand.
Hormuz split into two routes since the war
Before the war began, the Strait of Hormuz was considered a single maritime route. Ships passed through a designated route. But amid rising tensions between the US and Iran, the crucial waterway has now been divided into two separate routes.
Iranian route: This route lies in the northern part of the Strait of Hormuz, close to Iran’s coast. It passes near the islands of Larak and Qeshm and leads towards Iranian ports and oil terminals.
Omani route: This route lies in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, closer to Oman and farther from Iran’s coast. The US has been pushing for ships to use this route. Several commercial vessels operating under US Navy protection also use this route.
