An Indian official said three Indian mariners were killed on board a tanker targeted by the US military for allegedly violating America’s blockade on Iran.
Sarbananda Sonowal yesterday announced the three mariners’ killings on X in the attack on the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello.
“Sadly, three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after two bodies were recovered,” he wrote.
It wasn’t clear where the third body was.
The US military’s Central Command had accused the Settebello of having “violated the ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran”.
It fired into the ship’s engine room to stop it.
The United States launched a second round of airstrikes into Iran yesterday after US President Donald Trump warned that Teheran would “pay the price” for stalled negotiations, and Iran responded with strikes targeting Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.
The new US assault across multiple Iranian cities came as efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict again appeared stuck, with Iran insisting it would maintain its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted global energy supplies and sent oil prices higher.
The American attack appeared more intense and wider than the day before, but Iran released little information on the extent of the damage.
The third back-and-forth strikes this week have tested a two-month shaky ceasefire.
The first were attacks between Iran and Israel on Sunday into Monday, followed by two rounds of fire between the United States and Iran.
Trump has urged Iran to sign a deal to end the conflict and suggested earlier this week that a deal could be reached within days.
But Iran has proved resilient despite weeks of heavy bombing.
It is betting that its ability to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz – a crucial passageway for oil and natural gas – gives it a strong bargaining chip. — AP
