Iran hits two UAE tankers in Strait, killing Indian crew member

Iranian cruise‑missiles struck two United Arab Emirates‑flagged oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, killing an Indian seafarer and injuring dozens more, a development that has thrust the already volatile waterway into the global spotlight.

The attacks on the Al Bahiyah and Mombasa – together carrying 46 crew members – came just hours after the United States launched its third consecutive night of strikes against Iranian military assets. The parallel offensives have rekindled a dispute over who actually controls the strait, with Tehran insisting the passage is closed to “illegal” foreign interference while Washington claims it remains open via an alternative southern route.

Media additions

India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that one of the 12 Indian nationals aboard the Al Bahiyah was killed and another injured. On the Mombasa, nine of the 18 Indians on board were wounded, including two in serious condition.

“We strongly condemn these attacks and acts of violence targeting seafarers and disrupting free and safe navigation through international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz,”

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson, India’s Ministry of External Affairs, via BBC

In response, New Delhi summoned Iran’s deputy ambassador to lodge a “strong protest”. Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared the strait “our territory” and vowed to keep it closed until “the end of interference”.

“We defend it so that in the future, for the passage of our ships, we are not forced to pay tribute to the enemy!”

Mohammed Mokhber, adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, via WHDH

Meanwhile, the United States’ Central Command (CENTCOM) announced a new wave of precision strikes that began at 20:45 GMT on Monday, targeting air‑defence systems, radar sites, missile and drone launch facilities across Iran, including Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa and Bandar Abbas. According to CENTCOM, the operation lasted five hours and “successfully struck military targets” in those locations.

“U.S. forces are postured and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available to commercial shipping despite Iran’s continued unwarranted aggression, harassment, threats, and arbitrary declarations,”

CENTCOM, via Fox News

The U.S. Also warned that the Strait of Hormuz is a “vital maritime corridor for global trade” and that Iran does not control it, underscoring its intent to keep the waterway open through an “expanded” southern route hugging Oman's coastline.

Iran’s retaliation was swift. State media reported that the IRGC launched attacks on “violating” vessels in the strait and shot down a U.S.–made drone near Bandar Abbas. The Revolutionary Guard also claimed to have hit U.S. Assets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, with air‑raid sirens sounding multiple times in Bahrain and Jordan reporting the interception of four Iranian missiles without casualties.

Oil markets reacted instantly. Brent crude rose roughly 2 percent to $84.98 a barrel on Tuesday, while the U.S. Benchmark fell to around $72.92 a barrel. Ship‑tracking data from Kpler showed a sharp fall in strait crossings – about a 52 percent drop from Friday to Sunday compared with the prior week – and MarineTraffic reported “minimal” traffic on the Omani southern route over the weekend.

International actors have called for de‑escalation. The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, urged that “freedom of navigation has to be respected”. A regional official involved in mediation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said mediators from Pakistan, Qatar and Egypt continue to discuss a final settlement, even as both sides ramp up military pressure.

What happened – a timeline

• Monday night (overnight) – Iranian cruise missiles hit the Al Bahiyah and Mombasa in Omani waters; one Indian crew member killed, multiple injuries.
• Monday, 20:45 GMT – CENTCOM launches its third night of U.S. Strikes on Iranian sites across the south.
• Monday, later – Iran’s IRGC reports shooting down a U.S. Drone and striking “violating” vessels; sirens sound in Bahrain.
• Tuesday, early – Jordan intercepts four Iranian missiles; Kuwait reports hostile aerial targets.

As the strait remains a flashpoint, the world watches whether diplomatic channels can survive the barrage of missiles and counter‑strikes that now dominate the narrow passage that carries roughly a fifth of the planet’s oil.