India has lodged a strong diplomatic protest with the United States after a commercial tanker was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, leaving three Indian crew members missing. The vessel, Settebello, had 24 Indians on board when it came under strike off the coast of Oman. While 21 sailors were rescued, search‑and‑rescue teams are still working to locate the remaining crew.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Jason Meeks, the US Chargé d’Affaires in New Delhi, to convey India’s “deep concern and condemnation” of the incident. According to officials, Nagaraj Naidu, Additional Secretary (Americas), led the meeting and stressed that the safety of Indian nationals must remain a priority amid rising tensions in the Gulf.
In its statement, the MEA said it “strongly condemned the strike” and confirmed that the Indian Embassy in Muscat is coordinating closely with Omani authorities. The embassy is monitoring the situation “proactively” as naval and coast guard units continue search operations in challenging maritime conditions.
India also expressed alarm over the growing number of attacks on commercial shipping in the region, warning that such incidents threaten global trade and regional stability. The ministry reiterated its call for immediate de‑escalation and a diplomatic resolution to the broader conflict that has destabilised the Gulf in recent months.
New details emerged as the US Central Command confirmed that American forces had disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly violated a naval blockade. The MEA responded by emphasising that targeting civilian infrastructure and commercial vessels must stop, and that free, unimpeded navigation under international law must be restored.
With three Indian sailors still unaccounted for, the situation remains tense, and India is expected to continue pressing both Washington and regional authorities for accountability and swift action.