Iran Fires Warning Shots At Togo-Flagged Tanker Carrying 12 Indian Crew Near Oman

A Togo-flagged chemical tanker carrying 12 Indian crew members came under attack near the coast of Oman after the Iranian Coast Guard fired warning shots at the vessel, according to India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

The incident took place on April 25 near the outer port limits of Shinas in Oman and involved the chemical tanker MT Siron.

Indian officials said the vessel was sailing alongside other ships when Iranian Coast Guard personnel intervened and opened warning fire. All Indian crew members on board were reported safe.

Speaking during an inter-ministerial briefing on developments in West Asia, Mandeep Singh Randhawa, Director at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said the ministry was closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions and maritime stakeholders.

According to information shared by the government, the vessel had been boarded by unidentified individuals before the Iranian Coast Guard intervention. Officials said no Indian-flagged vessel was affected in the incident.

The ministry said it remained in constant contact with authorities and maritime stakeholders to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers and shipping operations in the region.

Randhawa said all Indian sailors in the area were safe and there was no immediate cause for concern.

On 25th April, a Togo-flagged chemical tanker, MT Siron, was boarded by individuals, including Indian sailors, at the Shinas Outer Port limits in Oman. The vessel was near other ships when the Iranian Coast Guard intervened and fired warning shots. All Indian sailors are safe,… pic.twitter.com/pQ4jFJ9rQ3

— PIB India (@PIB_India) April 27, 2026

The Directorate General of Shipping control room has reportedly handled 7,780 calls and 16,650 emails over the past 24 hours while maintaining communication with 2,770 Indian-linked ships, of which 12 provided operational updates.

The incident follows earlier confrontations involving Indian-linked vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

In recent days, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had opened fire on the VLCC Sanmar Herald and bulk carrier Jag Arnav while the ships were attempting to transit the strait, forcing them to turn back.

India had lodged a strong protest with Tehran over those incidents. No injuries were reported among crew members.

Per reports, one of the Indian-linked vessels was fired upon despite having prior clearance from Iranian authorities.

British military monitoring had also reported Iranian Revolutionary Guard gunboats firing on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran announced restrictions on the waterway, though the vessel and crew were reported safe.

Iran’s joint military command had said control of the Strait of Hormuz had returned under strict management of its armed forces and warned restrictions on transit would remain while a US blockade on Iranian ports continued.

During the seven-week conflict, vessels have reportedly only been allowed passage with Iranian authorisation.

Two ships identified by Iran’s state media as MSC Francesca and Liberian-flagged Epaminodas were also attacked and taken over in the Strait of Hormuz.

Shipping tracking data showed Epaminodas was sailing to India’s Mundra Port from Jebel Ali when the incident occurred.

References: indiatvnews, republicworld