Three Indian sailors missing in Gulf of Oman following US military attack
New Delhi officially summoned United States Chargé d'Affaires Jason Meeks on Wednesday to lodge a sharp protest regarding an American military strike on a commercial tanker that left three Indian sailors missing. The Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep concern over the safety of its citizens operating in volatile international waters. Additional Secretary Nagaraj Naidu led the diplomatic meeting in New Delhi after the Palau-flagged chemical tanker, M/T Settebello, caught fire near the coast of Oman. The vessel carried a crew of 28 people, including 24 Indian nationals. While rescue teams saved 21 of the Indian sailors, three remain unaccounted for in the ocean. The Indian Embassy in Muscat is working directly with Omani rescue teams to search the area.
Washington Confirms Action
US Central Command later confirmed its forces targeted the ship as part of an active maritime blockade against Iran. According to American military officials, a US aircraft fired precision weapons into the ship's engine room after the crew ignored direct orders. The strike happened roughly 20 nautical miles northeast of the Sohar port in Oman, creating a major fire inside the engine room.
Maritime security groups note that this escalation marks a dangerous shift for commercial sea routes. The regional tension stems from an ongoing American blockade started in April to stop trade with Iranian ports. For India, which relies heavily on these West Asian sea lanes for oil imports and provides a significant portion of the global seafaring workforce, such military actions directly threaten national economic security and citizen safety.
New Delhi called for immediate diplomatic talks to restore calm, warning that aggressive actions against merchant vessels create severe risks for international trade.
