The Iranian Coast Guard fired warning shots and boarded a Togo-flagged chemical tanker, the MT Siron, near the Shinas Outer Port limits in Oman on April 25. The vessel, which has Indian sailors among its crew, was intercepted while in the vicinity of other ships. Mandeep Singh Randhawa, Director at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, confirmed the incident during an inter-ministerial briefing, stating that the Indian government is coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs and maritime stakeholders to ensure the safety of the seafarers.
This incident follows a series of aggressive maritime actions by Iran in the West Asia region. On April 22, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N) attacked and seized two ships, the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, in the Strait of Hormuz. Notably, the Liberian-flagged Epaminondas was en route from Dubai to Mundra Port in Gujarat, India. These attacks occurred just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump had announced an indefinite ceasefire, highlighting the volatile security environment in the region’s shipping lanes.
The Indian government has expressed serious concern over these developments, particularly after two other Indian ships were fired upon by IRGC gunboats on April 18 while traversing the Strait with permission. While Iran claims these vessels were “operating without authorization,” India has lodged a strong formal protest against these actions. Currently, the Directorate General of Shipping is maintaining a 24-hour watch and constant communication with nearly 2,800 Indian ships to monitor their safety, though officials state there is no immediate cause for panic.
