Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Jul 25: A Mozambique-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker carrying 28 Indian crew members came under attack in Iranian territorial waters on Friday, prompting immediate monitoring by Indian authorities. The Indian Embassy in Tehran confirmed that all Indian nationals aboard the vessel are safe.
In an official statement, the Embassy said it was aware of the incident involving the tanker DISHA (IMO No. 8818219) and had been in constant contact with the relevant Iranian authorities. It added that the safety of all 28 Indian crew members had been verified and that the mission would continue to closely monitor the evolving situation.
The attack reportedly occurred near the eastern entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes. According to audio recordings from a public VHF maritime communication channel obtained by Xinhua News Agency, the vessel transmitted a distress call after coming under missile attack.
The recordings also reportedly captured a warning issued by a caller identified as a US military operator, who repeatedly instructed a merchant vessel not to proceed toward Iranian waters. The caller allegedly warned that failure to alter course would result in action against the vessel's engine room, giving the crew a limited window to evacuate the area before any strike.
Subsequently, another transmission believed to be from the tanker Disha reported that the vessel had been struck by unidentified missiles. The crew urgently requested immediate assistance while providing its location near the Strait of Hormuz and stated that around 30 personnel were on board at the time of the emergency call, according to the Xinhua report.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region and increasing concerns over the safety of commercial shipping operating through the Strait of Hormuz.
In response to the deteriorating security environment, India's Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) last week advised ship owners, vessel managers and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) companies to refrain from assigning Indian seafarers to ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz until further notice.
The maritime regulator said the advisory was issued as a precautionary measure to safeguard Indian seafarers in light of continuing attacks on merchant vessels operating in the conflict-affected waters. Authorities have urged the shipping industry to exercise heightened caution while operating in the region until the security situation improves.