The United States on Thursday released footage of an attack on the MT Jalveer in the Strait of Hormuz, a vessel carrying 20 Indian nationals, claiming that the foreign-flagged ship attempted to transport oil from Iran through the Gulf of Oman.
Details of the Incident
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), US forces disabled the Guinea-Bissau-flagged oil tanker at 11:20 PM ET on June 10 after it violated the blockade against Iran by attempting to transport Iranian oil. This marked the third commercial ship disabled by American forces that week.
In a post on X, CENTCOM stated: "US Central Command (CENTCOM) acted against Guinea-Bissau flagged M/T Jalveer as it attempted to transport oil from Iran through the Gulf of Oman." The command further explained that two Hellfire missiles were fired into the ship's engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from US forces.
Previous Actions
Earlier in the week, US aircraft disabled two other vessels: the Palau-flagged MT Marivex on Monday and the MT Settebello on Tuesday. The Marivex was accused of attempting to sail to an Iranian port, while the Settebello was targeted for trying to transport Iranian oil.
Since initiating the blockade on April 13, CENTCOM forces have disabled nine non-compliant vessels, redirected 135 ships that complied, and allowed 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass. The blockade is enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
India's Response
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) formally protested the repeated strikes on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz by the US Navy. This protest came after an attack on the Palau-flagged MT Settebello in the Gulf of Oman, which resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: "There have been several incidents involving Indian seafarers in West Asia in the last few days. We attach high importance to the welfare and well-being of our seafarers' community. We need not re-emphasise this point. Yesterday, we condemned the attack on a ship off the coast of Oman in which, unfortunately, we lost three Indian nationals."
Diplomatic Actions
On Wednesday, the MEA summoned US Charge d'Affaires Jason Meeks to register a protest over the growing impact of the conflict on commercial vessels employing Indian crew members. Officials urged an end to attacks on merchant shipping and emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and security of seafarers navigating global maritime routes.
