Caught in crossfire: 22 Indians on ships attacked by Iran in Strait of Hormuz

Approximately 22 Indian nationals aboard ships were caught in hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz following Iran's assertion of strict control over the strat...

What Happened

Approximately 22 Indian nationals aboard ships were caught in hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz following Iran's assertion of strict control over the strategic waterway.
Two Indian-flagged vessels — reported to include a VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) — came under fire from Iranian gunboats despite having received prior clearance to pass; the incident is characterised as possibly a case of mistaken identity rather than deliberate targeting of Indian ships.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) separately intercepted and seized two foreign cargo vessels — including one (Epaminondas) bound for India — while targeting a third; seized ships were escorted into Iranian territorial waters.
The broader crisis context: tensions in the Strait escalated dramatically following US-Israeli military action against Iran beginning in February 2026, which severely disrupted normal shipping operations.
India summoned the Iranian envoy in New Delhi to seek protection for Indian nationals and vessels, invoking existing bilateral ties with Tehran.

Static Topic Bridges

Strait of Hormuz: Geography and Strategic Importance

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow sea passage between Iran to the north and Oman and the UAE to the south, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is considered the world's most critical oil chokepoint due to the volume and concentration of energy trade that transits through it.

Location: Between Iran (north) and Oman/UAE (south); approximately 33 km wide at its narrowest navigable point.
In 2024, approximately 20 million barrels per day (b/d) of oil — about 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption — transited the strait.
Flows through the strait constitute more than one-quarter of total global seaborne oil trade.
Around one-fifth of global LNG trade (primarily from Qatar) also transits the strait.
Up to 30% of internationally traded fertilisers normally transit via the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait is designated under UNCLOS as an international strait, meaning all states enjoy the right of transit passage.

Connection to this news: The seizure and firing on ships in the Strait directly threatens India's energy security — India is a major importer of Gulf crude — and the welfare of the large Indian diaspora working in the maritime sector as seafarers.

Right of Transit Passage and UNCLOS

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982, establishes the legal framework governing international straits. Under Part III of UNCLOS, ships and aircraft of all states enjoy the right of "transit passage" through straits used for international navigation — a right that cannot be suspended even in peacetime by the bordering state.

UNCLOS entered into force: November 16, 1994.
India ratified UNCLOS in 1995.
Transit passage (Article 38) is different from and stronger than innocent passage — it cannot be suspended and applies to warships and submarines as well.
Iran is a party to UNCLOS; however, Iran has at times asserted that foreign military vessels require prior notification or permission.
The IRGC Navy (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Naval Force) regularly conducts operations in the Persian Gulf and has a history of seizing tankers since 2019.

Connection to this news: Iran's blockade of shipping and seizure of vessels flagged to third countries violates the transit passage rights enshrined in UNCLOS, placing this incident squarely in the domain of international maritime law and the geopolitics of energy security.

India-Iran Relations and Consular Protection Obligations

India maintains a historically significant relationship with Iran, including energy trade, the Chabahar Port agreement, and a large Indian diaspora in the Gulf region. India's Ministry of External Affairs is constitutionally obligated to protect Indian nationals abroad under its consular functions.

India and Iran signed the Chabahar Port development agreement; India has invested in developing Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar as a key route for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia.
India has historically imported Iranian crude oil; sanctions and geopolitical dynamics have affected volumes over time.
As of recent estimates, over 9 million Indians live and work in the Gulf region — the largest diaspora population in any single geographic bloc.
The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963) obliges states to protect the interests of nationals abroad and allow consular access to detained nationals.
Indian seafarers constitute one of the largest national groups in global merchant shipping; India is the sixth-largest flag state for merchant vessels.

Connection to this news: The summoning of the Iranian envoy reflects India's use of diplomatic channels available under the Vienna Convention framework, while the Chabahar investment creates additional complexity in India's calibrated response to Iranian military actions.

India's Energy Security and Persian Gulf Dependence

India's energy security is structurally linked to the Persian Gulf. Any prolonged disruption to the Strait of Hormuz has direct consequences for India's oil import costs, rupee-dollar dynamics, and macroeconomic stability.

India imports approximately 85% of its crude oil requirements; the Persian Gulf accounts for around 60% of India's crude imports.
Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait are among India's top crude suppliers — all of whose exports transit the Strait of Hormuz.
India's strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) has a capacity of approximately 5.33 million metric tonnes at three underground locations (Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, Padur).
A 10% rise in crude oil prices is estimated to widen India's current account deficit by approximately 0.4% of GDP.

Connection to this news: This incident illustrates that disruption at Hormuz is not an abstract geopolitical risk for India — it directly affects Indian seafarers' lives, India-bound cargo, and the macroeconomic cost of energy imports.

Key Facts & Data

Indian nationals on affected ships: approximately 22
Vessels reportedly seized by IRGC: Epaminondas (India-bound) and MSC Francesca
Strait of Hormuz width at narrowest navigable point: ~33 km
Global oil trade through strait: ~20 million barrels/day (20% of global petroleum consumption)
LNG share: ~one-fifth of global LNG trade
UNCLOS entered into force: November 16, 1994; India ratified: 1995
India's crude oil import dependence: ~85% of requirements
Persian Gulf share of India's crude imports: ~60%
India's SPR capacity: ~5.33 million metric tonnes (3 locations)