India Angry at Iran Over its Oil Tanker Hit in Hormuz Strait

An Indian-flagged crude oil carrier was attacked on April 18 while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, even as limited tanker traffic resumed after a 50-day blockade.

The vessel, identified by an Indian government source as the Sanmar Herald, was struck during its attempted passage. The source said “the crew on board and the vessel were safe.”

Earlier the same day, at least two merchant vessels reported being hit by gunfire while attempting to cross the strait, according to Reuters.

The incident coincided with a narrow reopening window. Maritime tracking data cited by Al Jazeera showed at least eight oil and gas tankers crossing early on April 18.

The movements included one crude oil tanker, four liquefied petroleum gas carriers, two oil and chemical tankers, and one “oil products” vessel, according to Kpler.

The partial resumption followed a 50-day closure imposed during the conflict. Shipping data cited earlier showed more than a dozen tankers, including three sanctioned vessels, had crossed on April 17 after the route was briefly opened. U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 17 that Iran had agreed to allow transit.

However, Iranian officials tied continued access to the United States fully lifting its blockade of Iranian tankers. By April 18, Iranian forces had reimposed restrictions and “fired at some vessels,” compressing the reopening window to less than 24 hours of relatively active passage.

MarineTraffic data showed several crude oil tankers positioned near Iran’s Larak Island, a key checkpoint for vessels exiting the Gulf under Iranian enforcement. The concentration of vessels near this point reflects both congestion and controlled passage dynamics during the brief reopening.

Iranian forces’ closure of the strait had already trapped hundreds of ships inside the Gulf. The disruption pushed up shipping costs and led captains to avoid the area due to fears of attacks or naval mines, tightening operational constraints across commercial fleets.

India summoned Iran’s ambassador following the attack on its flagged vessel, signaling diplomatic escalation tied directly to maritime security. The Sanmar Herald incident adds to at least two confirmed vessel engagements within a single day.