• Source:JND
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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday summoned the Iranian ambassador to India, Dr Mohammad Fathali following reports of firing incidents at two ships in Strait of Hormuz. During the meeting, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri conveyed India’s deep concern over the shooting incident. He urged the Iranian side to convey India’s position to its authorities and to resume, at the earliest, the process of ensuring safe passage for India-bound ships through the Strait.

In a statement, the MEA noted, "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." The Iranian ambassador reportedly assured that he would convey these concerns to the relevant authorities in Tehran.

Two Ships Hit By Gunfire

Two Indian vessels reportedly had to turn back in the Strait after reports of gunfire from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. The escalation comes after Iran briefly reopened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday but then moved to reimpose restrictions the next day.

Vessel tracking platform, TankerTrackers.com said one of the ships was an Indian-flagged supertanker carrying around 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil. It is reported that no one was injured, and the vessels also didn't sustain damage.

Earlier, the British military stated two Iranian gunboats opened fire on a tanker passing through the Strait after Iran announced closure. The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) also confirmed the incident, saying the tanker and its crew are safe, but it did not identify the vessel or its destination.

Iran's Warning To US

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned the United States that the country’s navy is ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies.  In a statement posted on Telegram, Mojtaba said that Iran’s “brave navy stands ready to make the enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats." The Supreme Leader, who has not been seen in public since the outbreak of war on February 28, continues to address the nation through official channels.

ALSO READ: Indian-Flagged Ships In Spotlight As Hormuz Crisis Deepens; How Are They Navigating High-Risk Waters?


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