India Summons Senior Iranian Diplomats After Indian Seafarer Killed in Hormuz Missile Strike

New Delhi: India on Tuesday summoned senior Iranian diplomats, including Deputy Chief of Mission Mohammad Javad Hosseini, after an Indian crew member was killed and eight others, including six Indians, were injured in an Iranian missile strike on two UAE-flagged oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

The diplomats were seen leaving the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) headquarters following the high-level meeting over the attack on merchant vessels in the strategic waterway.

The diplomatic move came after the UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed that the tankers Mombasa and Bahia were struck by two Iranian cruise missiles while navigating the southern passage of the Strait of Hormuz within Omani territorial waters.

According to the UAE, the attack on Mombasa killed one Indian national and injured eight crew members, including six Indians and two Ukrainians. Four of the injured sustained serious injuries. The missile strikes also sparked major fires on both vessels, causing extensive damage before emergency teams brought the blazes under control.

Condemning the attack as a "serious violation" and a "clear breach of international law," the UAE warned it reserved the right to respond and take all necessary measures to protect its territory, citizens and residents.

"The state reserves its full right to respond to this escalation and to take all necessary measures to protect its territories, people, and residents," the UAE Ministry of Defence said, adding that its forces remain on high alert.

The latest incident comes amid escalating military tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. Before the attack, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iranian forces had targeted several "violating" vessels in the waterway.

The latest casualty brings the number of Indian nationals killed in the ongoing West Asia conflict to 11. Last month, three Indian sailors were killed in a US strike on the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello.