The US military said on Wednesday it had attacked a tanker in the Gulf of Oman which was allegedly attempting to transport Iranian oil.
The engine room of the Settebello vessel, which was sailing under the Palau flag, was fired upon after the crew defied instructions, the US CENTCOM command responsible for the region wrote on X.
The UK's Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had previously reported that a fire broke out in the engine room of a tanker off the coast of Oman. It said the crew was evacuated. Initial reports spoke of two missing persons and one casualty. It was unclear if the casualty referred to a fatality or an injury.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that three Indian crew members from the Settebello were missing. The remaining 21 have been rescued. It added that a search operation for the missing seafarers is under way in cooperation with the authorities in Oman.
The ministry condemned the attack: "The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region in keeping with international law must be restored at the earliest."
According to reports in the newspaper The Hindu and other Indian media, the ministry summoned the US deputy ambassador in New Delhi in protest.
The United States has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports in response to Iran's effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Since mid-April, eight ships have now been rendered unable to manoeuvre, according to US figures.
