Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Apr 27: A chemical tanker carrying Indian sailors came under fire after Iranian coast guard personnel reportedly fired warning shots at the vessel near Oman’s Shinas Outer Port limits on April 25, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said on Monday.
The vessel, identified as the Togo-flagged MT Siron, was allegedly boarded by individuals when it was operating in the area, prompting intervention by Iranian forces. Officials said the incident occurred in proximity to multiple ships in the region.
Speaking at an inter-ministerial briefing, Director Mandeep Singh Randhawa said the situation is being closely monitored in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian diplomatic missions, and maritime stakeholders to ensure the safety of seafarers and uninterrupted shipping operations.
He added that the Directorate General of Shipping control room has been actively engaged, handling thousands of communications from the maritime sector. According to official data, 7,780 calls and 16,650 emails have been received so far, with continuous updates maintained from 2,770 Indian-flagged vessels, 12 of which have reported in directly.
Authorities said there is currently “no cause for concern,” though monitoring remains ongoing given the sensitivity of maritime routes in the region.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping corridor. Earlier on April 22, Iranian forces allegedly targeted a vessel en route to Mundra Port in India, shortly after a temporary ceasefire announcement between Iran and the United States.
Reports from Iran’s state media, including Press TV, claimed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N) had intercepted multiple ships, including MSC-Francesca and Epaminodas, alleging they were operating without authorization.
Shipping monitoring agencies reported that one of the vessels was en route to Mundra in Gujarat from Dubai when it was attacked, while another sustained damage during the incident.
On April 18, similar reports indicated that Iranian forces had fired on additional Indian-linked vessels in the Strait, prompting a formal protest from India. A British maritime monitoring agency also confirmed that gunboats had engaged two ships, leaving one immobilised and another damaged.
Indian authorities continue to track developments closely as tensions persist in the region’s key maritime routes.