Three boys play in the shallow waters of the Strait of Hormuz, as a plume of smoke rises from an explosion in the background, off Bandar Abbas, Iran, on July 13 (ISNA via AP)
India on Tuesday condemned the escalating violence in the Gulf after an Indian sailor was killed in an Iranian missile strike on two UAE tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of External Affairs called for an immediate halt to hostilities, urging all sides to return to dialogue and ensure free, unimpeded navigation through the strategic waterway. The UAE said the missiles hit its tankers Mombasa and Al Bahiyah in Omani waters, killing one Indian crew member and injuring eight others, including six Indians.
US-Iran conflict intensifies
The developments came as the US launched a third consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran, saying the attacks were aimed at degrading Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump also announced a renewed naval blockade of Iranian ports and a 20 per cent cargo toll for vessels transiting the strait. Iran responded by claiming strikes on US military sites in Kuwait and warning that any American role in managing the strait would be treated as an act of war.
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Top updates on Iran-US conflict:
- Indian sailor killed: One Indian died, and six others were injured after Iranian missiles struck two UAE tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
- India reacts: MEA condemned attacks on commercial shipping and called for free navigation and a return to diplomacy.
- US strikes Iran again: CENTCOM launched a third straight night of attacks targeting Iran’s military infrastructure.
- Trump announces Hormuz blockade: The US said it would impose a 20% cargo toll on shipping through the strait, sending oil prices sharply higher.
- Iran retaliates: Tehran said it struck US-linked targets in Kuwait and warned Washington against any attempt to control the Strait of Hormuz.
QUIZ | Hormuz Under Fire: How Closely Are You Following?
Iranian missiles have struck two UAE supertankers in the Strait of Hormuz, killing an Indian sailor. Test yourself on the latest escalation — 5 quick questions.
Question 1 of 5
How many crew members died when Iranian missiles struck two Emirati oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz?
One Indian crew member aboard the Mombasa B was killed. Of the eight wounded — four of them seriously — six were Indian nationals and two were Ukrainian, the UAE defence ministry said.
Question 2 of 5
Which two tankers were hit while transiting the Strait of Hormuz?
ADNOC L&S confirmed its very large crude carriers Mombasa B and Al Bahiyah sustained “significant damage” from Iranian cruise missiles while in Omani territorial waters.
Question 3 of 5
What did Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim the two “offending” supertankers had done?
The IRGC said the supertankers ignored repeated warnings, turned off their navigation systems and attempted to pass through what it described as a mined route. It accused the US of “inciting vessels to use an illegal route”.
Question 4 of 5
What fee has President Trump proposed for guarding the Strait of Hormuz?
Trump reinstated a blockade of Iranian shipping and proposed charging a 20% fee to guard the Strait of Hormuz, as the US military carried out a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran.
Question 5 of 5
Before the war began on February 28, roughly what share of the world’s oil and gas traffic passed through Hormuz daily?
Before the conflict, around a fifth of the world’s oil and gas traffic passed through Hormuz daily — delivering more than 15 million barrels of fuel to global markets, worth at least $1.2 billion.
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