Aditya Sharma, a cadet, Shivanand Chaurashiya, a fitter, and Patnala Suresh, a chief engineer, were killed aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello after a US aircraft fired at the tanker’s engine room last week, according to the Forward Seamen’s Union of India.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned the US envoy in New Delhi to register a protest, but the US Department of State said Secretary of State Marco Rubio told India’s foreign minister that commercial vessels must comply with US military orders and that violations of the American blockade around the Strait of Hormuz would not be accepted.

The statement triggered criticism from Indian opposition lawmakers, who said Washington had failed to acknowledge the loss of Indian lives.

Rahul Gandhi, leader of India’s opposition, said there was no expression of regret or apology following the deaths. Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor also criticised the US response, calling the absence of condolences over the deaths of Indian sailors deeply concerning.

The Forward Seamen’s Union of India said a fourth sailor, second officer Nishanth Uirthanathan, died from medical complications aboard the MT Celestial off Oman after the vessel was unable to reach medical facilities.

The union said many Indian sailors remained stranded in the region because of restrictions linked to the US blockade. Manoj Yadav, the union’s secretary-general, said some vessels faced shortages of food, drinking water and medical supplies.

The incidents occurred amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran around the Strait of Hormuz, where thousands of Indian nationals work aboard commercial ships.

US Central Command said the vessels involved had failed to comply with instructions from American forces, while the manager of MT Settebello rejected the claim, saying there had been no communication before the strike.

The union said three commercial vessels carrying Indian crew were attacked by US forces during the previous week, increasing concerns over maritime safety in the region.

Modi’s visit includes meetings in France and Slovakia before he attends the G7 summit in Evian, France, marking India’s 13th participation as a partner country at the forum. The G7 members include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The Indian government said it would call for safe and unrestricted maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route, while raising broader concerns linked to developments in West Asia.“We want and we have urged that there be unimpeded and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in keeping with international law,” Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters.

The comments came after US attacks on vessels near Hormuz that killed three Indian sailors. The US Central Command said the strike was carried out because the tanker involved was “attempting to transport oil from Iran.”India’s foreign ministry said protecting the welfare and security of its seafaring community remained a priority.

More than 320,000 Indians work as mariners globally, making them one of the largest national groups in the profession, while about 20,000 are currently serving on commercial vessels in the Hormuz region, according to the Forward Seamen’s Union of India.The Indian Embassy in Oman said three ships staffed by Indian personnel in the Gulf had been attacked by American forces during the week.

Modi is also expected to meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the summit, with the issue likely to feature in discussions between the two leaders.Analysts said the incidents had increased India’s focus on securing maritime movement across the wider Gulf corridor, with New Delhi seeking clarity over the protection of civilian shipping.

The summit will also provide India an opportunity to engage with Gulf countries invited by France, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Egypt.The G7 meeting begins on Monday in France, bringing together leaders of major industrial economies to discuss global economic and security issues.

The ministry said it summoned US Deputy Chief of Mission Jason Meeks to lodge “a strong protest” over what it called continuing attacks by US naval forces on commercial vessels carrying Indian mariners.The attacks had resulted in the “tragic and avoidable loss of three Indian lives,” the ministry said in a statement.

Meeks was first summoned on Wednesday after a US strike hit the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello off the coast of Oman, killing three Indian crew members.The incident followed a June 8 strike on another Palau-flagged tanker, MT Marivex, from which Omani authorities rescued 24 Indian sailors.

On Thursday, a Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker was also hit in a US strike, according to Indian officials. New Delhi said the vessel’s crew, including 20 Indian sailors, were rescued.A US State Department official said Washington was in direct contact with the Indian government regarding the matter.

India is among the world’s largest sources of merchant seafarers, with more than 320,000 active sailors in 2025, according to the country’s shipping ministry.The shipping ministry has advised Indian sailors operating on Indian and foreign-flagged vessels travelling through conflict-affected waters to exercise the highest degree of caution.

“The continuing attacks on shipping in the region are deeply worrisome,” Indian foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said, adding that such attacks must stop.India’s navy said on Thursday it had conducted a high-risk operation to remove an unexploded missile warhead from the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MT Olympic Life after it was struck off Oman on May 26.The vessel later reached India’s southern port of Kochi safely.

The navy said the projectile had entered the hull, passed through several structural compartments and became lodged inside a fuel tank.Shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz have faced disruption since Iran restricted maritime traffic after attacks by the United States and Israel began on February 28. The United States has also imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said a fire broke out at around 1:30 p.m. local time aboard the Palau-flagged tanker MT Marivex while it was operating off Oman’s coast.

“There has been a fire reported on a vessel, MT Marivex, on which there were 24 Indian seafarers. All Indian seafarers are safe,” ministry director Opesh Kumar Sharma told reporters.

Images shared by the Forward Seamen’s Union of India showed Indian Navy helicopters winching crew members from the vessel as thick black smoke engulfed parts of the ship, including the bridge and accommodation block.

Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic showed the tanker south of Oman’s capital, Muscat, at the time of the incident.

Authorities did not disclose the cause of the fire or provide details on damage to the vessel.

The rescue comes amid heightened maritime tensions in the region, where shipping routes have faced disruptions since the outbreak of conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel earlier this year.

India’s foreign ministry on Monday reiterated concerns over the regional conflict, saying it had caused significant human suffering and disrupted global energy supplies and economic activity.

The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which entered into force on Monday, eliminates tariffs on most Indian exports to Oman, covering about 99% of the value of India’s shipments to the Gulf state. The agreement comes at a time when India is seeking to safeguard critical supply chains amid ongoing turmoil in the Middle East following U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.

Indian officials and trade experts say the pact assumes added significance as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens one of the world’s most important energy and shipping routes. Despite efforts to diversify sourcing and transport networks, India remains dependent on the corridor for roughly 30% of its crude oil imports and about 90% of its liquefied petroleum gas imports.

In a statement, India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry said Oman’s ports of Sohar, Duqm and Salalah would provide Indian exporters with enhanced access to Gulf and East African markets, helping establish what it described as a new trade gateway for Indian businesses.

Anil Wadhwa, a former Indian ambassador to Oman and a distinguished fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation, said the agreement had acquired immediate strategic relevance because of the regional crisis.

“The coming into force of the CEPA between India and Oman has immediately gained significance due to the crisis in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” Wadhwa said, adding that the pact offered India alternative logistics channels, transshipment facilities and stronger commercial linkages at a time of growing uncertainty in global supply chains.

He said the agreement would not fully shield India from the broader economic consequences of a prolonged regional conflict but could help mitigate disruptions by preserving access to key trade corridors.

The CEPA is India’s second bilateral trade agreement with a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council after a similar pact with the United Arab Emirates signed in 2022. For Oman, the deal is its second bilateral free trade agreement after its accord with the United States in 2006.

Oman is India’s second-largest trading partner in the Gulf region, with bilateral trade exceeding $11 billion in the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Industry groups view the agreement as a mechanism to strengthen India’s manufacturing exports while reducing logistical dependence on routes affected by the Hormuz crisis.

Manish Mohan, senior director at the Confederation of Indian Industry, said the prolonged disruption of shipping through the strait had heightened concerns over fuel imports, fertilizer supplies and freight costs.

India, the world’s second-largest fertilizer consumer after China, uses more than 60 million tonnes of fertilizer annually. The conflict involving Iran has affected fertilizer supply chains, with Gulf producers accounting for about one-third of India’s imports of urea and phosphate-based fertilizers.

Mohan said Oman’s location outside the Strait of Hormuz increased its value as a commercial hub and alternative entry point for Indian imports if regional instability persists.

The agreement is also expected to support investment flows and deepen economic ties between the two countries, while providing Indian exporters with improved access to markets across the Gulf and eastern Africa through Omani ports and logistics infrastructure.

The centre said the object was sighted west of the Inshore Traffic Zone in the Strait of Hormuz and urged maritime users to maintain a safe distance from any suspicious objects and immediately notify relevant authorities.

In a statement, the Maritime Security Centre described the object as a suspected sea mine and advised vessels operating in the area to remain vigilant while transiting through Omani waters.

No injuries, damage to vessels or disruptions to shipping traffic were reported by the centre. Authorities did not provide further details on the nature of the object or any ongoing assessment and recovery operations.

The warning comes as maritime security remains under close scrutiny in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway linking the Gulf with international shipping routes. Any potential navigational hazard in the area is closely monitored by regional authorities due to the strategic importance of the passage for commercial and energy shipments.

The Maritime Security Centre reiterated its call for maritime operators, fishermen and other sea users to report suspicious objects immediately and to follow safety guidance issued by authorities while operating in the vicinity of the reported sighting.

Trump’s remarks followed a second day of talks with Xi in Beijing covering Iran, Taiwan, trade and regional security, amid mounting concern over energy supplies and maritime instability linked to the conflict.
“We’ve settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn’t have been able to solve,” Trump told reporters after the meeting.

The White House said both leaders agreed the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed before the conflict — must remain open to international shipping.

Iran effectively curtailed most commercial traffic through the strategic waterway following U.S.-Israeli strikes that began on Feb. 28, triggering major disruption in global energy markets and renewed fears over supply-chain shocks.

Trump said Xi had also assured Washington that China would not provide military equipment to Tehran.
“He said he’s not going to give military equipment, that’s a big statement,” Trump said during an interview with Fox News’ “Hannity.”

China, Iran’s largest oil customer and one of its closest strategic partners, did not publicly confirm details of the discussions. However, China’s foreign ministry criticized the continuation of the war, saying the conflict “should never have happened” and had no justification to continue.

The war has become a growing political and economic challenge for the White House ahead of U.S. midterm elections later this year, with prolonged instability pushing up global energy costs and disrupting shipping routes across the Gulf.

Trump signaled increasing impatience with stalled diplomatic efforts involving Tehran.

“I am not going to be much more patient. They should make a deal,” Trump said in the televised interview.
Negotiations aimed at ending the conflict have remained deadlocked after Iran rejected demands to halt its nuclear program and surrender enriched uranium stockpiles. Tehran maintains its nuclear activities are intended for civilian purposes and denies seeking atomic weapons capability.

Trump suggested the issue of Iran’s uranium reserves was partly symbolic from Washington’s perspective.
“I just feel better if I got it,” he said, referring to the stockpile. “It’s more for public relations than it is for anything else.”

The White House said Xi expressed opposition to the militarisation of the Strait of Hormuz and rejected proposals linked to imposing tolls on shipping transiting the corridor, an idea Iranian officials have previously raised.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview from Beijing that China had strong economic incentives to help restore maritime traffic through the strait.

Analysts, however, questioned whether Beijing would significantly pressure Tehran, given Iran’s strategic value as a counterweight to U.S. influence in the Middle East.

The conflict has increasingly spilled into regional shipping lanes.

An Indian cargo vessel carrying livestock from Africa to the United Arab Emirates sank off Oman on Wednesday after reportedly being struck by a missile or drone, according to British maritime security firm Vanguard. India said all 14 crew members were rescued.

Separately, Britain’s UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that unauthorized personnel boarded a vessel anchored near the UAE port of Fujairah and redirected it toward Iranian waters.

Vanguard said the ship was believed to have been seized by Iranian personnel.

Fujairah, located outside the Strait of Hormuz on the Gulf of Oman, serves as the UAE’s only oil export terminal bypassing the narrow maritime chokepoint.
Diplomatic efforts linked to the broader regional conflict continued separately in Washington, where Lebanese and Israeli officials held talks on Thursday that a senior U.S. State Department official described as productive and positive.

Trump has said the objectives of the campaign against Iran include dismantling Tehran’s nuclear program, reducing its regional military capabilities and increasing pressure on the Iranian leadership.

The White House said Trump and Xi agreed during meetings in Beijing that the Strait of Hormuz should remain open and that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons, as maritime incidents near the strategic waterway intensified pressure on global oil markets.

Trump, speaking in an interview aired Thursday on Fox News, urged Tehran to reach an agreement with Washington after diplomatic efforts to end the conflict stalled.

“I am not going to be much more patient,” Trump said. “They should make a deal.”

The comments came as Iran continued restricting access through the Strait of Hormuz following U.S.-Israeli attacks that began on Feb. 28 and triggered one of the most severe disruptions to global energy flows in decades.

China, Iran’s largest oil customer and a close strategic partner, has emerged as a key diplomatic player in efforts to stabilize the region and restore shipping traffic through the narrow maritime chokepoint, which previously handled about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

The White House said Xi opposed further militarization of the strait and rejected any attempt to impose transit tolls on vessels using the route.

Trump also said Xi assured him China would not provide military equipment to Iran and expressed interest in increasing Chinese purchases of American oil to reduce dependence on Gulf shipping lanes.
On the issue of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, Trump suggested securing the material was more politically symbolic than strategically essential.

“I don’t think it’s necessary except from a public relations standpoint,” Trump said during the interview.
Meanwhile, maritime security concerns escalated further after an Indian cargo vessel carrying livestock from Africa to the United Arab Emirates sank off Oman on Wednesday following what security analysts said was likely a missile or drone strike.

India said all 14 crew members were rescued by Oman’s coast guard and condemned the attack.
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that unauthorized personnel boarded a vessel anchored off the UAE port of Fujairah and steered it toward Iranian waters.

Security consultancy Vanguard said the ship was believed to have been seized by Iranian personnel while at anchor.

Despite the disruptions, Iranian authorities indicated they were permitting limited shipping traffic through the strait under negotiated arrangements with selected countries.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said 30 vessels had passed through Hormuz since Wednesday evening, although shipping levels remained far below pre-war averages.
Shipping analytics firm Kpler estimated that roughly 10 vessels crossed the strait during the past 24 hours, compared with about 140 vessels on a typical day before the conflict.

Diplomatic efforts to end the war remain stalled after Tehran and Washington rejected each other’s latest proposals last week.

Washington is demanding Iran surrender its stockpile of enriched uranium and halt further enrichment activities, while Tehran is seeking sanctions relief, compensation for war-related damage and recognition of its control over the strait.

A senior U.S. admiral told a Senate committee on Thursday that Iran’s ability to threaten neighboring countries and American interests had been “significantly degraded” by the conflict, though reports indicate Tehran retains substantial missile and drone capabilities.

The conflict has also reverberated across the wider region, including renewed instability involving the Iran-backed group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

India’s foreign ministry described the incident as “unacceptable,” saying commercial shipping and civilian mariners continued to face threats amid heightened regional tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable, and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said all Indian crew members aboard the vessel had been rescued safely by Omani authorities but did not identify the ship or specify who New Delhi believed was responsible for the attack.Maritime security firm Vanguard identified the vessel as the MSV Hajj Ali, a wooden cargo dhow carrying 14 crew members.

The company said it received reports that the ship sank off Limah, Oman, south of the Strait of Hormuz, after a suspected explosion.According to Vanguard, the vessel was transporting livestock from Berbera in Somaliland to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates when it was apparently struck by what was believed to be a drone or missile.

A fire reportedly broke out onboard, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel before it sank, the company said.Ship-tracking platform Maritime Traffic lists the MSV Hajj Ali as a 54-meter wooden dhow commonly used in regional cargo trade across Gulf and Arabian Sea routes.

Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has faced severe disruption since the outbreak of war involving Iran on Feb. 28. Tehran has imposed extensive restrictions on maritime movement through the waterway, while the United States has maintained a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports despite a ceasefire agreed in early April.

The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments during normal operating conditions, making any disruption a major concern for energy markets and import-dependent economies such as India.

“India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided,” the foreign ministry added.The incident occurred as India hosted foreign ministers from the BRICS bloc in New Delhi, including Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Speaking during the summit, Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz remained open to commercial traffic provided vessels coordinated with Iranian naval authorities, though he did not directly address the attack on the Indian vessel.

India’s foreign ministry described the incident as “unacceptable,” saying commercial shipping and civilian mariners continued to face threats amid heightened regional tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable, and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said all Indian crew members aboard the vessel had been rescued safely by Omani authorities but did not identify the ship or specify who New Delhi believed was responsible for the attack.

Maritime security firm Vanguard identified the vessel as the MSV Hajj Ali, a wooden cargo dhow carrying 14 crew members. The company said it received reports that the ship sank off Limah, Oman, south of the Strait of Hormuz, after a suspected explosion.

According to Vanguard, the vessel was transporting livestock from Berbera in Somaliland to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates when it was apparently struck by what was believed to be a drone or missile.A fire reportedly broke out onboard, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel before it sank, the company said.

Ship-tracking platform Maritime Traffic lists the MSV Hajj Ali as a 54-meter wooden dhow commonly used in regional cargo trade across Gulf and Arabian Sea routes.Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has faced severe disruption since the outbreak of war involving Iran on Feb. 28.

Tehran has imposed extensive restrictions on maritime movement through the waterway, while the United States has maintained a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports despite a ceasefire agreed in early April.

The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments during normal operating conditions, making any disruption a major concern for energy markets and import-dependent economies such as India.

“India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided,” the foreign ministry added.The incident occurred as India hosted foreign ministers from the BRICS bloc in New Delhi, including Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Speaking during the summit, Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz remained open to commercial traffic provided vessels coordinated with Iranian naval authorities, though he did not directly address the attack on the Indian vessel.