Middle East Monitoring Desk Islamabad by Tazeen Akhtar 
In a major escalation on April 18, 2026, Iranian naval forces allegedly fired upon two Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The ships identified in reports include the Jag Annapurna (a VLCC supertanker carrying Iraqi oil) and the Sanmar Herald. India summoned Iran’s Ambassador to India, Dr. Mohammad Fathali, to express deep concern.
The Ambassador of Iran to India, Mr. Fathali, only less than a week ago, issued a statement on 12 April 2026 calling India a trusted friend and expressed gratitude for Indian human assistence sent for the victims of invasion of US and Israel. Few days later he was summoned by Indian MOFA.
Here it is worth mentioning that Iran did not react in that way to India when the Iranian warship was attacked and sunk by a U.S. submarine torpedo in the Indian Ocean while returning from naval exercises in India. 87 Iranian marines were killed in the strike and India did not come to rescue more than 300 others. Here in firing incident no casualty occured.
The attack occurred approximately 20 nautical miles off the northeast coast of Oman while the ships were transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route.Iranian gunboats reportedly approached the vessels and opened fire, forcing them to retreat westward and exit the strait. All crew members are reportedly safe, and the tankers were not seized.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned the Iranian Ambassador to lodge a formal protest regarding the incident. “The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi was called in by the Ministry of External Affairs for a meeting with Foreign Secretary this evening. During the meeting, Foreign Secretary conveyed India’s deep concern at the shooting incident earlier today involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz. He noted the importance that India attached to the safety of merchant shipping and mariners and recalled that Iran had earlier facilitated the safe passage of several ships bound for India. Reiterating his concern at this serious incident of firing on merchant ships, Foreign Secretary urged the Ambassador to convey India’s views to the authorities in Iran and resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait.”
The incident follows Iran’s declaration that the route is “completely closed” due to alleged U.S. violations of previous understandings.
The closure and subsequent firing on tankers led to immediate volatility in global markets, though oil prices plunged shortly after as Iranian officials later suggested the strait remained “open” during a ceasefire.
Two vessels tried to bypass Iran’s authority in the Strait of Hormuz which prompted Iran’s army to fire at them. The damage was likely minimal as they did a U-turn.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations organization, which is administered by Britain’s Royal Navy, recorded two incidents of vessels being hit. Those ships, and several others, then reversed course.In the first incident, the U.K.M.T.O. said, gun ships operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a force separate from its regular navy, fired at a tanker without radio warning. The ship’s captain reported that the crew were safe, the U.K.M.T.O. said. In the second incident, a container ship was “hit by an unknown projectile which caused damage to some of the containers,” the organization said.
Iran has announced it is again closing the Strait of Hormuz. The military says the US must lift its blockade of Iranian ports before the Strait is opened again.
Speaker of Iranian Parliament and Chief Negotiator Mr. Qalibaf said in a statement, “All seven of Trump’s claims are false. If the naval blockade continues, the Strait will not be reopened. Furthermore, all transit through the strait will be subject to IRAN’s authorization and conducted strictly along routes designated by IRAN.”
Since the United States imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and coastal areas, 23 ships have complied with U.S. forces orders to turn back toward Iran, the U.S. military said on Saturday.
At least 20 vessels have been attacked in recent weeks, according to the International Maritime Agency, an arm of the United Nations. In the last seven days, an average of one ship a day has successfully passed through the strait, according to Signal, a maritime analysis firm. Most shipping companies were waiting to see if the current cease-fire would hold, said Maria Bertzeletou, a senior market analyst at Signal.
“The strait is still in a danger zone,” Ms. Bertzeletou said. “The next 72 to 96 hours of actual tanker transits will determine whether confidence returns, or remains constrained.”
On 04 March 2026, the Iranian warship IRIS Dena was attacked and sunk by a U.S. submarine torpedo in the Indian Ocean while returning from naval exercises in India.The frigate was struck in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka. Approximately 87 sailors were killed, while 32 survivors were rescued by the Sri Lankan military.The vessel had just participated in the Milan 2026 naval exercises hosted by India in Visakhapatnam.
When Pakistan called on the sides , especially President Trump to give a chance to the peace and provided a platform for both sides to negotiate for peace and thus a process of dialogue and diplomacy was started on 08 April , India was the second most disturbed country after Israel. Iran continuously appreciated tireless sincere efforts of Pakistan for restoration of peace and end of hostilities (unwarranted invasion on Iran) in the region, India was criticizing Pakistan with bad words.
Iran did not gave a shut up call to India and did not stop Indian supply line from Hormuz. Now Iran can see the Indian actions including strong support for Netanyahu as Modi was hugging him in Tel Aviv only couple of days before a joint aggression was unleashed against Iran. It is time for Iran to see who is a friend and brother and who is just a hypocrit, a black sheep.
