Delhi issues ‘strong protest’ after US strikes kill three Indian seafarers in Gulf

What Happened

US Central Command confirmed that its aircraft struck the engine room of the oil tanker MT Settebello with two Hellfire missiles in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday, as part of a military blockade of Iranian ports imposed in April. The US said the ship, flagged under Palau, had repeatedly failed to comply with instructions and was violating the blockade. Three Indian crew members—Patnala Suresh (chief engineer), Aditya Sharma (deck cadet), and Shivanand Chaurashiya (fitter)—were killed, and their bodies were found on the ship by Thursday. India's shipping minister called it a 'profound loss' and the foreign ministry summoned a senior US diplomat and issued a strong protest, demanding that the attacks cease. The MT Settebello is one of three Indian-crewed tankers hit by US missiles this week; on Monday, a US fighter jet struck the Marivex, setting it alight and forcing evacuation, and on Thursday another Indian-crewed tanker sailing under a Guinea-Bissau flag was struck for allegedly attempting to transport Iranian oil and failing to comply. The US said it has disabled nine vessels and redirected 135 others since the blockade began.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The deaths of Indian seafarers in US military strikes escalate diplomatic friction between Delhi and Washington, potentially complicating their broader strategic partnership. India supplies nearly 15% of the global maritime workforce, making such incidents highly sensitive domestically. The strikes also intensify the US-Iran standoff at a time when peace talks are already faltering, and they raise questions about the legality and human cost of unilateral naval blockades in international waterways, particularly given the heavy reliance on the Strait of Hormuz for global oil transit.

Watch For

Monitor for further US strikes on non-compliant vessels and any Indian retaliatory diplomatic or protective measures for its seafarers. Watch for Iranian responses—whether military, diplomatic, or via proxies—to the tightening blockade. Key upcoming events: any statements from the UN Security Council or International Maritime Organization on the legality of the blockade; the next round of US-Iran talks or breakdown thereof; Indian government briefings on the safety of Indian crews; and potential shifts in shipping insurance or routing decisions due to elevated risk.