Indian killed in underwater drone attack by Iran on US-owned oil tanker

Indian killed in underwater drone attack by Iran on US-owned oil tanker

Mangalore Today News Network

Tehran, Mar 12, 2026: An Indian crew member died after a US-owned crude oil tanker, Safesea Vishnu, was attacked by Iran near Basra in Iraq yesterday. The remaining 15 Indian crew members on board have since been evacuated and moved to safety, the Indian Embassy in Baghdad informed. Another oil tanker was also caught ablaze in the Persian Gulf after coming under attack in Iraq’s territorial waters. Iran has claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying an underwater drone attack "blew up two oil tankers in the Persian Gulf", according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.

The ships that were attacked were the Maltese-flagged Zefyros and the Marshallese-flagged Safesea Vishnu. Safesea Vishnu is owned by the US-based company Safesea Transport Inc., while Zefyros’ owner is based in Greece.

The Indian embassy has said it is in regular touch with the authorities in Iraq and the rescued Indian sailors.

On March 11, 2026, a US-owned crude oil tanker Safesea Vishnu, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked near Basra, Iraq, in which one Indian crew member unfortunately lost his life. The remaining 15 Indian crew have since been evacuated to a safe place.

Earlier, a CNN report claimed that a ’suicide’ Iranian boat, rigged with explosives, could have hit the two vessels, and an investigation is ongoing.

🚨 NEW

US-owned SAFESEA VISHNU oil tanker has been hit near Iraq by an underwater drone

This the first US-owned oil tanker taken out in this war pic.twitter.com/Hzdbs6czk2

— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) March 11, 2026

At least three commercial vessels have also been hit by "unknown projectiles" in the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s busiest oil shipping route, as the American-Israeli war with Iran continues to squeeze the oil-rich Gulf region amid global energy concerns. One ship was hit off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a second north of Oman had to be evacuated due to fire on board; and a third sustained damage north-west of Dubai, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

Previously, Iran had said it would "set fire" to any ships trying to pass through the Strait through which about 20 per cent of the world’s oil usually passes. Despite Tehran’s threat, a very small amount of traffic has continued through the route.

The Donald Trump administration in the United States, meanwhile, said its military has "eliminated" 16 Iranian mine-laying ships in the strait. The US-Israeli campaign against Iran is now in its 12th day, with no end in sight, and has severely reduced sea traffic and sent global oil prices soaring.

What’s Strait of Hormuz And Why Does It’s Closing Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is a 55-kilometre-wide water channel between Iran and Oman, separating the Persian Gulf from the Arabian Sea. It is a particularly important piece of global real estate in terms of the energy sector and one of the busiest and most strategically significant shipping routes in the world.

About 13 million barrels of oil per day normally move through these waters -- about 31 per cent of global oil shipments. Closure of the strait would affect major ports belonging to Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Iran itself. For several of these countries, the strait is the primary route through which oil reaches global markets.

Its blocking could further inflate the cost of goods and services worldwide, especially oil, and hit some of the world’s biggest economies, including China, India and Japan, which are among the biggest importers of crude through the waterway.

Even a short-lived closure of parts of the strait in February 2025 led to a six per cent jump in the price of oil.