Tehran:
An Indian crew member died after a US-owned crude oil tanker, Safesea Vishnu, was attacked by Iran close to Basra in Iraq yesterday. The remaining 15 Indian crew members on board have since been evacuated and moved to security, the Indian Embassy in Baghdad knowledgeable. Another oil tanker was additionally caught ablaze within the Persian Gulf after coming underneath assault in Iraq’s territorial waters. Iran has claimed duty for the assaults, saying an underwater drone assault “blew up two oil tankers in the Persian Gulf”, based on Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.
The ships that had been attacked had been the Maltese-flagged Zefyros and the Marshallese-flagged Safesea Vishnu. Safesea Vishnu is owned by the US-based firm Safesea Transport Inc., whereas Zefyros’ proprietor relies in Greece.
The Indian embassy has stated it’s in common contact with the authorities in Iraq and the rescued Indian sailors.
On March 11, 2026, a US-owned crude oil tanker Safesea Vishnu, crusing underneath the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked close to Basra, Iraq, wherein one Indian crew member sadly misplaced his life. The remaining 15 Indian crew have since been evacuated to a secure place.
1/2
— India In Iraq (@EI_Baghdad) March 12, 2026
Earlier, a CNN report claimed {that a} ‘suicide’ Iranian boat, rigged with explosives, might have hit the 2 vessels, and an investigation is ongoing.
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US-owned SAFESEA VISHNU oil tanker has been hit close to Iraq by an underwater drone
This the primary US-owned oil tanker taken out on this battle pic.twitter.com/Hzdbs6czk2
— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) March 11, 2026
At least three business vessels have additionally been hit by “unknown projectiles” within the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s busiest oil delivery route, because the American-Israeli battle with Iran continues to squeeze the oil-rich Gulf area amid international vitality issues. One ship was hit off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a second north of Oman needed to be evacuated attributable to fireplace on board; and a 3rd sustained injury north-west of Dubai, based on the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
Previously, Iran had stated it might “set fire” to any ships making an attempt to cross by way of the Strait by way of which about 20 per cent of the world’s oil often passes. Despite Tehran’s menace, a really small quantity of visitors has continued by way of the route.
The Donald Trump administration within the United States, in the meantime, stated its army has “eliminated” 16 Iranian mine-laying ships within the strait. The US-Israeli marketing campaign in opposition to Iran is now in its twelfth day, without end, and has severely diminished sea visitors and despatched international oil costs hovering.
What’s Strait of Hormuz And Why Does It’s Closing Matters
The Strait of Hormuz is a 55-kilometre-wide water channel between Iran and Oman, separating the Persian Gulf from the Arabian Sea. It is a very necessary piece of worldwide actual property when it comes to the vitality sector and one of many busiest and most strategically vital delivery routes on this planet.
About 13 million barrels of oil per day usually transfer by way of these waters — about 31 per cent of worldwide oil shipments. Closure of the strait would have an effect on main ports belonging to Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to Iran itself. For a number of of those nations, the strait is the first route by way of which oil reaches international markets.
Its blocking might additional inflate the price of items and companies worldwide, particularly oil, and hit a few of the world’s largest economies, together with China, India and Japan, that are among the many largest importers of crude by way of the waterway.
Even a short-lived closure of elements of the strait in February 2025 led to a six per cent bounce within the worth of oil.
