In the Arabian Sea, maritime conflicts between nations escalated on Saturday, April 18, 2026, when an Indian-owned supertanker loaded with around two million barrels of crude oil from Iraq was attacked by the Iranian Navy. The attack took place 20 nautical miles off the coast of Oman, following the withdrawal of two Indian ships from the important waterway of the Strait of Hormuz.
Shooting at the Gulf of Oman
The tank ship was attacked by two Iranian gunboats associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Based on information from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and the tracking firm TankerTrackers.com, the gunboats engaged in the firing without giving a prior warning through the radio channel. The tanker ship and its Indian crew are said to be unharmed despite the attack, while the Indian ship Sanmar Herald, sailing alongside, was not under attack.
The Indian Navy is currently monitoring the situation from its nearby destroyers in the Gulf of Oman, though no Indian warships were present within the Strait of Hormuz at the time of the attack. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday summoned the Iranian ambassador to India to lodge a formal protest after an Indian-flagged tanker, Sanmar Herald, was fired on by Iranian forces near the Strait of Hormuz, say people familiar with the matter.
This incident comes on the heels of a complete turnaround in Iran’s oceanic policy, with just 24 hours between the announcement by Iranian authorities regarding the “full opening” of the Strait through Pakistan mediation, and the imposition of restrictions once again by the IRGC in response to the statement by US President Donald Trump regarding America’s naval embargo against Iranian ports.
Strategic Consequences
The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most important oil choke point, accounting for 20% of the world’s crude oil traffic. India, a leading importer of oil from Iraq and the Persian Gulf countries, is especially susceptible to such events.
Diplomatic Consequences: It is anticipated that the MEA will summon the Iranian ambassador in protest of the “unprovoked” shelling.
Peace Talks in Jeopardy: This attack is likely to upset the second phase of peace talks set to commence in Islamabad this coming Monday.
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