India has condemned an attack on the commercial vessel MT El Gaia off Oman’s coast, where 13 of the 14 Indian crew members were rescued while one Indian seafarer remains missing. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian Embassy in Oman is coordinating with Omani authorities and monitoring the ongoing search-and-rescue operation.
India called the targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians and civilian infrastructure “unacceptable” and urged immediate de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy. The incident comes amid heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, where another Iranian commercial vessel was reportedly struck near Qeshm Island, killing one person and injuring four, according to Iranian state media.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported a vessel being hit by a projectile and catching fire, although it was not immediately clear whether the two reports referred to the same incident. The developments came as a regional meeting on securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, planned in Oman, was postponed.
13 Rescued, One Still Missing
The attack on MT El Gaia has placed the safety of Indian seafarers at the centre of India’s response. Of the 14 Indian nationals aboard the vessel, 13 have been rescued, while search-and-rescue teams continue looking for the missing crew member.
The MEA said the Indian Embassy in Oman is “closely monitoring the situation” and coordinating with Omani authorities. New Delhi has also reiterated that commercial ships and their crews must not become targets in regional conflicts.
“The targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians, and civilian infrastructure in the region is unacceptable,” the ministry said. It called for an immediate reduction in tensions and urged all sides to pursue dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace.
India also called for the earliest restoration of free and safe navigation and the uninterrupted flow of commerce through international waterways.
The vessel, a Panama-flagged oil-products tanker, had recently been operating around Omani waters, placing its crew in a maritime corridor that has become increasingly dangerous amid the wider regional confrontation.
Hormuz Tensions Deepen Further
The incident involving MT El Gaia came alongside another reported attack near Iran’s Qeshm Island, close to the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported that a commercial vessel was struck, killing one person and injuring four others.
Iranian authorities blamed a “terrorist enemy”, although independent confirmation of responsibility was not immediately available. Separately, UKMTO said a vessel had been hit by a projectile while transiting the Strait, causing a fire and prompting an evacuation operation.
It remained unclear whether this was the same vessel reported by Iranian media. The incidents have added to growing concerns over commercial shipping through one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. The International Maritime Organization has warned of the growing risks to seafarers, with dozens of attacks on international shipping reported during the wider crisis.
The Strait of Hormuz is particularly significant because it handles a major share of global energy trade. Reduced shipping through the waterway has already raised concerns about energy supplies, freight costs and the safety of crews. Recent vessel-tracking data has also shown traffic through the strait significantly below normal levels, reflecting how conflict-related risks are affecting commercial movement.
Diplomacy Faces Fresh Setback
The latest attacks have also complicated efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the shipping crisis. Iran and Oman had been working towards an arrangement intended to help manage maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, with a regional meeting involving Iran, Iraq and Gulf countries planned in Oman.
However, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced that the meeting had been postponed in the interests of regional consensus. Iranian officials said the decision was made jointly with Oman and followed requests from several regional countries.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has maintained that any reopening of the waterway would depend on broader conditions involving the United States. In an interview with India Today, he said the waterway would be opened on the condition that the US ends what Iran describes as a blockade.
Pezeshkian has also adopted a defiant tone amid the escalating confrontation, saying Iran would not surrender. Meanwhile, countries in the Gulf have expressed different views on how the Strait should be managed, underscoring the diplomatic challenge. For India, the priority remains both the safety of its citizens and the restoration of secure international navigation.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The latest attack is a painful reminder that ordinary people often bear the consequences of conflicts they did not create. The 13 Indian seafarers who have been rescued are now safe, but the continued search for the missing crew member underlines the human cost behind geopolitical confrontations. Commercial vessels carrying civilian workers should never become targets, regardless of the disputes between governments or military powers.
India’s call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy is therefore important, particularly at a time when every new attack risks triggering another cycle of retaliation. Protecting freedom of navigation must go hand in hand with protecting the lives of the people who make global trade possible.
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