‘Unacceptable,’ says India after Iran attacks injure 3 Indians in UAE, calls for Hormuz access

What Happened

• Iranian drones struck Fujairah in the UAE, injuring three Indian nationals described as "moderately injured"; approximately 19 missiles and drones were launched in the assault.
• India's Ministry of External Affairs described the attack as "unacceptable" and demanded an immediate halt to hostilities targeting civilian infrastructure.
• India called for free and unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz under international law, and expressed readiness to support a peaceful diplomatic resolution.
• The attack broke a fragile ceasefire announced on April 8; it followed a broader pattern in which at least eight Indians, including mariners, have died since the outbreak of hostilities on February 28, 2026.
• The United States launched "Project Freedom" — deploying guided missile destroyers to escort merchant vessels through the Strait — while Iran's foreign minister characterised the US operation as "Project Deadlock."
• Fujairah, located outside the Strait of Hormuz on the Gulf of Oman, is the UAE's only operating oil export zone on its eastern coast, making it a strategically critical terminal.

Static Topic Bridges

Strait of Hormuz: The World's Most Critical Energy Chokepoint

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway separating the Arabian Peninsula from Iran, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and then to the Arabian Sea. At its narrowest point it is approximately 29 nautical miles (54 km) wide. Ships transiting the strait pass through the territorial waters of both Iran and Oman, which expanded their respective 12-nautical-mile territorial seas in 1959 and 1972. As of 2025, nearly 15 million barrels per day (mb/d) of crude oil — roughly 34% of global seaborne crude trade — and approximately 20% of the world's LNG passed through the Strait annually, making it the world's single most important oil transit chokepoint.

UNCLOS and the Right of Transit Passage Through International Straits

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, 1982) governs navigation rights through international straits under Articles 37–44 (Part III). "Transit passage" — the right of ships and aircraft to pass continuously and expeditiously through straits used for international navigation — cannot be suspended by the bordering state. Unlike "innocent passage" (which can be suspended in territorial seas), transit passage is a near-absolute right. While Iran has not ratified UNCLOS, the right of transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz is considered customary international law by most states.

IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps): Iran's Parallel Military

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was established after the 1979 Iranian Revolution and is formally constitutionalised under Article 150 of Iran's Constitution, which mandates it to "guard the Revolution and its achievements." The IRGC operates as a parallel military force alongside Iran's regular army (Artesh), with its own ground forces, navy, air force, intelligence directorate, and special operations units. The IRGC Navy is specifically tasked with controlling Iran's maritime borders including the Strait of Hormuz, operating primarily through asymmetric tactics — small fast-attack craft, anti-ship missiles, naval mines, and drone swarms — rather than conventional naval engagements.

India-UAE Relations and the CEPA Framework

The UAE is India's third-largest trading partner and hosts the world's largest Indian diaspora — approximately 3.5 million people. The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed on February 18, 2022, and entered into force on May 1, 2022, making it one of India's fastest-negotiated FTAs. Bilateral trade crossed USD 100 billion in FY 2024–25, with a target of USD 200 billion by 2032. Fujairah holds special strategic significance for India: the port's oil storage facilities outside the Strait give India access to Gulf oil without Hormuz transit, and the Indian government has long-term interests in Fujairah's petroleum infrastructure.

India's Energy Dependence on West Asia

India imports approximately 85–88% of its crude oil requirements, with the Gulf region supplying a dominant share. India is also one of the world's largest importers of LNG, with Qatar (through Petronet LNG under a 25-year contract) accounting for a significant portion. The Strait of Hormuz closure has direct inflationary consequences for India through higher crude prices, higher LPG costs (India imports ~60% of its LPG from the Gulf, of which ~90% transits Hormuz), and logistics disruption.

Key Facts & Data

• Date of attack on Fujairah: May 4, 2026 (Monday evening)
• Indians injured in Fujairah attack: 3 (moderately injured)
• Total Indians dead since February 28, 2026 hostilities: at least 8 (including mariners)
• Missiles/drones in the May 4 Fujairah strike: ~19
• Fujairah location: Gulf of Oman, east of the UAE, outside the Strait of Hormuz
• Strait of Hormuz width at narrowest: ~29 nautical miles (54 km)
• Global crude oil trade through Hormuz: ~34% (2025)
• Global LNG trade through Hormuz: ~20%
• India's SPR total capacity: 5.33 MMT (~9.5 days of consumption)
• India-UAE bilateral trade (FY 2024–25): >USD 100 billion
• Indian diaspora in UAE: ~3.5 million
• UNCLOS transit passage: Articles 37–44 (Part III)
• IRGC constitutional basis: Article 150 of Iran's Constitution