Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - India has summoned Iran’s deputy chief of mission in New Delhi after an Indian crew member was killed in an attack on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessels, identified as Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were struck while transiting the southern passage of the strait.

The UAE said the tankers were hit by Iranian cruise missiles in Omani territorial waters, killing one Indian national and injuring eight others, including six Indians and two Ukrainians. The attack caused fires and material damage to both ships before the blaze was brought under control. India’s response was to formally protest the incident and press for accountability over the repeated attacks on merchant shipping in the region.

The Indian government has called the continuing assaults on commercial vessels “deeply worrisome” because they threaten free and safe navigation. New Delhi has also been closely monitoring the Strait of Hormuz since earlier incidents in which Indian seafarers were killed or wounded. The latest death has again put pressure on Iran amid growing regional alarm over the safety of one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

India’s diplomatic message is that attacks on merchant ships can no longer be treated as isolated incidents. With one Indian sailor dead and others injured, New Delhi is likely to keep pushing for safer navigation and stronger accountability in the Strait of Hormuz.