‘They’re Safe’: MEA Confirms Indian Seafarers On Board Ships Fired At By Iran In Hormuz

MEA says Indian crew on vessels seized by Iran in Strait of Hormuz are safe; IRGC confirmed it seized at least two ships on Wednesday.

The vessels MSC Francesca and Epaminondas, which Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said were “immobilised” and taken towards its coast. Epaminondas was headed to Mundra port. (IMAGE: MarineTraffic)

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday confirmed that Indian nationals were among the crew of vessels seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, and said they are safe. It added that it is in touch with Iranian authorities regarding the incident.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday said it had seized at least two vessels in the strategic waterway, as tensions persist in the region despite a recently announced ceasefire extension by US President Donald Trump.

In a statement, the IRGC Navy said it had detained two ships — MSC Francesca and Epaminondas — accusing them of “jeopardising maritime security”, operating without necessary permits and allegedly tampering with navigation systems. The vessels were directed towards the Iranian coast, it said.

According to Nour News, which is affiliated with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) opened fire on the first ship, identified as “Epaminodes”, after it allegedly “ignored warnings from the Iranian armed forces.”

“Two foreign vessels were fired at. Some Indian nationals are in the crew. They are safe. We are in conversation with the government of Iran to bring back the remaining vessels,” ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

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