Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - Despite a US-Iran ceasefire agreement that remains in place since April 2026, commercial vessels carrying Indian seafarers continue to face deadly attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States military has struck three merchant vessels this week in the strategically vital waterway, with three Indian sailors confirmed dead after the Mt. Settebello attack, marking the first reported deaths since the US blockade of Iran-related shipping began on April 13.

The deaths are the first reported since the US blockade began, with operations that have seen the US disable eight ships and turn back more than 100 others. Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed on Thursday that "three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after bodies have been located and identified". The three Indian crew members killed were identified as Aditya Sharma, a Deck Cadet; Shivanand Chaurasia, an Engine Fitter; and Patanala Suresh, Chief Engineer, aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello carrying 24 Indian crew members.

President Donald Trump has stated that a ceasefire with Iran remains intact, despite ongoing clash between Iranian forces and US naval destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz, where both parties have accused each other of aggression. However, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO), which monitors activity in the waterway, confirmed that three commercial ships were hit by unidentified projectiles near the Strait of Hormuz, with all crews evacuated as investigations continue. The ceasefire, mediated by Pakistan, was supposed to permit shipping activities to resume in the Strait of Hormuz, but commercial vessels continue to face attacks from both sides.

The tragic deaths of three Indian sailors highlight the dangerous reality that the US-Iran ceasefire has not ensured safety for commercial shipping in one of the world's most strategically important maritime corridors, with over 20 commercial vessels confirmed attacked off the Iranian coast since the conflict commenced.