Kamal Ghorui
“Bhagya Lakshmi” — one of two Indian-flagged tankers — turned back in the Strait of Hormuz after it was denied passage by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy following Iran’s announcement of the closure of the narrow waterway.In a video shared by an Iranian journalist on X, crew members of the ship are heard trying to communicate with the Iranian Navy, requesting permission to cross the Strait of Hormuz.Also read: Indian vessel’s frantic distress call during Hormuz firing revealed However, the Iranian Navy informed the vessel that it did not have access.“Iranian Navy, this is Bhagya Lakshmi. I read you loud and clear,” a crew member said.The Iranian Navy, on the other side, told the ship to “turn around immediately.” Bhagya Lakshmi complied.Meanwhile, another distress call emerged from Sanmar Herald. A crew member on board the crude oil tanker said, “Sepah Navy. Sepah Navy. This is motor tanker Sanmar Herald. You gave me clearance to go. My name is second on your list. You are firing now. Let me turn back,” the individual was heard saying.Two Indian-flagged tankers turned back in the Strait of Hormuz after reportedly being fired upon by Iranian gunboats yesterday, as the waterway—through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes—remains at the centre of confusion amid tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran. No injuries were reported, and the vessels were not damaged in the firing, sources said.According to Reuters, vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday received radio messages from Iran’s navy telling them they were not allowed to pass, while two ships reported being hit by gunfire. Several commercial vessels attempted to transit the strait after a notice to mariners a day earlier said passage was allowed but would be restricted to lanes Iran deemed safe, the report added.Meanwhile, India raised concerns over the safety of merchant shipping and sailors after reports of firing on commercial vessels. The Ministry of External Affairs said Iran had previously helped ensure safe passage for several India-bound ships.Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri urged the Iranian ambassador to convey New Delhi’s concerns to authorities in Tehran and to restore, at the earliest, the process of facilitating safe passage for Indian ships through the Strait of Hormuz. The ambassador assured that India’s concerns would be communicated.Iran addressed the shooting incident involving India-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz amid rising regional tensions, with its top representative in India stressing strong ties and calling for peace.”The relationship between Iran and India is very strong and I don’t know anything about this event which you mentioned and we hope that it will be okay and it will be solved,” said representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in India Dr Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi.Iran’s joint military command later said control over the Strait had returned to “strict management” by the armed forces.The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), through the Tasnim news agency, warned that vessels approaching the strait could be treated as acting in support of hostile forces and could be targeted.
