Amid escalating maritime tensions in the strategic waterway – the Strait of Hormuz, at least one Indian sailor was among the crew of a vessel taken into custody by Iran. On Wednesday, Tehran fired on three foreign-flagged merchant vessels attempting to pass through the critical corridor.
Two of them had 22 Indian sailors on board, Mukesh Mangal, additional secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, told a press briefing. Insinuating that there was no Indian on board the third ship, he further noted, “All seamen on board both vessels are safe.”
This press conference came as Iran captured two foreign container ships trying to leave the Strait of Hormuz. In retaliation for the United States’ naval blockade of Iranian ports and the seizure of Iranian-flagged ships, Tehran fired on a ship sailing through a waterway that controls one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies.
According to a PTI report, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) boarded and took custody of the vessels Francesca and Epaminondas. It is important to note that one Indian is among the 22 crew aboard the Epaminondas, while there is no Indian on the Francesca.
Meanwhile, the third Panamanian-flagged container ship Euphoria has 21 Indian sailors on board.
Crew members aboard Epaminondas in IRGC custody
The Panamanian-flagged container ship Epaminondas, which is in the custody of Iranian guards, has one Indian sailor on board. “He is safe,” PTI quoted Mukesh Mangala as saying. The India-bound vessel Epaminondas has a crew of 21, mostly Ukrainians and Filipinos.
Suggesting that the authorities are in touch with the concerned authorities, Mukesh Mangal said, “We have spoken to the concerned authorities and he (the Indian sailor on the Epaminondas) is safe.” Describing the location of the vessels Epaminondas and Francesca, he said they were on the western side of the Persian Gulf and the third vessel Euphoria, with 21 Indian sailors on board, was on the eastern side. “Now you can find out which vessel is where,” he added.
Notably, Iranian waters are on the western side of the Strait of Hormuz. If the ship sails on the east side of the strait, it means that it has sailed from the war zone.
According to Tehran, vessels passing through the strategic trade route violated transit rules or ignored warnings. However, naval sources indicate that at least one ship had prior clearance.
A Liberian-flagged container ship that came under fire in the Strait of Hormuz was authorized to pass through the waterway, British maritime security firm Vanguard Tech said. In contrast, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said the vessel ignored warnings issued by Iranian forces.
Following the shooting, an Iranian merchant vessel was seized by the United States in the Sea of Oman. Meanwhile, Iranian guards claimed that US forces fired on an Iranian ship and disabled its navigation systems, accusing Washington of violating the ceasefire and engaging in “armed piracy”.
According to US President Donald Trump, Washington maintains strategic control over a critical trade route — the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports take place.
