The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday (May 14, 2026) said that an Indian-flagged commercial vessel had come under attack off the coast of Oman, but all its crew members are safe.

The MEA described the attack as “unacceptable”, but its statement did ‌not say ​who had carried out ⁠the attack which took place on Wednesday (May 13, 2026).

Israel-Iran war LIVE updates – May 14, 2026

“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” the statement said.

“All Indian crew on board are safe and we thank the Omani authorities for rescuing them,” it added.

The MEA further said India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday (May 14, 2026) said that an Indian-flagged commercial vessel had come under attack off the coast of Oman, but all its crew members are safe.

The MEA described the attack as “unacceptable”, but its statement did ‌not say ​who had carried out ⁠the attack which took place on Wednesday (May 13, 2026).

Israel-Iran war LIVE updates – May 14, 2026

“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” the statement said.

“All Indian crew on board are safe and we thank the Omani authorities for rescuing them,” it added.

The MEA further said India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards held military exercises in the capital, Tehran, to prepare for any confrontation, state media reported Tuesday (May 12, 2026), after U.S. President Donald Trump warned a ceasefire in the West Asia war was on the brink of collapse.

The drills involved the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or IRGC, the ideological arm of Iran’s military, as well as the Basij, a paramilitary force affiliated with the Guards, according to state TV.

“Enhancing combat capability to confront any movement of the American-Zionist enemy was one of the goals and scenarios implemented in this drill, which was successfully carried out,” Brigadier General Hassan Hassanzadeh, Commander of the Tehran Revolutionary Guards, was quoted as saying by state TV.

The war, which started more than two months ago with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, spread across West Asia and damaged the global economy, affecting hundreds of millions worldwide.

Iran has choked off the Strait of Hormuz – a vital route out of the Gulf for oil, gas and fertiliser – seeking to wield economic leverage over the United States and its allies.

The U.S. Navy, meanwhile, is blockading Iran’s ports, at times disabling or diverting ships heading to and from them.

Iran announced alternative routes on Thursday (April 9, 2026) for ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, citing the risk of sea mines in the main zone of the vital waterway.

Tehran has agreed to temporarily reopen the strait, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil usually passes, as part of a two-week truce.

A Liberia-flagged oil tanker that set sail from Saudi Arabia on March 3 carrying around one million barrels of crude oil docked in Mumbai on Wednesday (March 11, 2026), crossing the Strait of Hormuz where marine traffic had stalled following the start of hostilities on February 28.

Also read: West Asia war updates on March 12, 2026

This is possibly the first such vessel to reach Indian shores since the beginning of the West Asia conflict.

India’s daily crude oil needs are some five million barrels, more than 85% of which is imported.

Shenlong, a tanker managed by Dynacom, sailed from Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia and docked at the Mumbai port at 4.30 p.m. on March 11, according to the ship-tracking website marinetraffic.com.

According to Reuters, the vessel is the first crude oil tanker to reach India from West Asia since the joint strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28. State-run Bharat Petroleum Corporation is the customer.

Press Trust of India reported that “another large ship is likely to reach Indian ports in a day or two”. The Indian-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier with around two million barrels of Iraqi crude is headed to Paradip in Odisha.

According to shipping news website Lloyds List, the Shenlong crossed the Strait of Hormuz around March 8. In a report published on March 9, it said, “Dynacom’s Shenlong (IMO: 9379210) Suezmax transited around March 8 carrying Saudi Arabian crude loaded at the port of Ras Tanura and is listing its destination as the Indian port of Mumbai.”

Incidentally, on March 7, a day before Shenlong crossed the strait, Iran thanked the Indian government for letting IRIS Lavan dock at Kochi on March 3. “The excellent coordination and cooperation of the Indian authorities in these difficult circumstances clearly reflect the long-standing and friendly relations between our two countries,” Iran’s Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali had told ANI.