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.

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.

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.

The bottleneck includes 12 very large gas carriers and 50 very large crude carriers, with only six ships transiting the strait between Tuesday and Wednesday, far below the typical daily average of around 120 vessels in peacetime, data from maritime analytics firm Kpler showed.

Limited movement has been permitted through a tightly controlled corridor near Iran’s Larak Island, with access largely restricted to vessels linked to Iran or countries maintaining favorable relations with Tehran. Lloyd’s List estimates that at least 48 ships have passed through the route since last week under such arrangements.

Iran imposed the blockade following strikes by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28, effectively constraining a waterway that normally handles about one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments. Shipowners granted passage have reportedly faced fees of up to $2 million per transit, although Tehran has indicated that vessels from allied nations may be exempt.

Malaysian authorities said tankers operated by companies including Petronas, Sapura Energy and MISC were awaiting clearance, with Iran assuring Kuala Lumpur that fees would be waived due to bilateral ties. Officials cautioned that heavy congestion could delay passage regardless of exemptions.

China said at least three of its vessels had recently transited the strait following coordination with relevant parties. Ship-tracking data indicated that two container ships exited the Gulf on a subsequent attempt while sailing in close formation and at increased speed, in what analysts described as the first such movement by non-Iranian container vessels since the escalation began.

A small number of other ships have also managed to leave, including a Greek-operated tanker carrying Saudi crude to India and several Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas carriers transporting essential cargo.

Shipping sources said some crews have adopted risk mitigation measures such as nighttime navigation or disabling tracking systems to reduce exposure to threats including mines, missiles and drones.Despite limited transits, exports from major Gulf producers such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar remain largely suspended, with hundreds of vessels and an estimated 20,000 seafarers still awaiting clearance in and around the Gulf.

A Pakistani oil vessel reached Karachi after successfully transiting the strait, while another shipment arrived via an alternative route. Officials said further deliveries could follow in the coming weeks.The disruption has intensified diplomatic efforts to reopen the waterway.

Britain is preparing to host talks involving around 35 countries to address maritime security, while China and Pakistan have jointly called for a ceasefire and urged all sides to ensure safe passage for commercial shipping.U.S.

President Donald Trump reiterated on Wednesday that Iran must lift the blockade, warning of potential military action if it fails to comply.

The vessels, BW Tyr and BW Elm, are expected to arrive in Mumbai on March 31 and New Mangalore on April 1, respectively, according to a statement from the petroleum ministry.The transit comes as shipping through the strategic chokepoint has been severely curtailed by the conflict, with Iran allowing passage only to what it has described as “non-hostile vessels” that coordinate with its authorities.

The two tankers are among a small number of Indian-flagged vessels to successfully navigate the strait in recent days. Four LPG carriers have already completed the crossing, while three more remain in the western section of the waterway, according to ship tracking data.

A total of 18 Indian-flagged vessels with 485 Indian seafarers are still in the western Gulf region, the government said, underscoring continued exposure to maritime risks in the area.Energy dependence in focusIndia, the world’s second-largest importer of LPG, consumed 33.15 million tons of the fuel last year, with imports meeting roughly 60% of demand.

About 90% of these imports originate from the Middle East, making the Strait of Hormuz a critical artery for the country’s energy security.

Despite disruptions in maritime traffic, port operations across India remain normal with no congestion reported, the government added.