An audio recording said to be from the Sanmar Herald, one of the two Indian tankers that came under fire by the Iranian navy north of Oman, has emerged. An official from the tanker can be heard telling the Iranian Navy that it was firing on the Indian-flagged ship, even though it had given it permission to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian Navy fired on two Indian ships – the Jag Arnav and the Sanmar Herald – in contradiction to Tehran’s previous statements that countries not involved in the conflict with the US and Israel would not be targeted.
Jag Arnav is an Indian-flagged bulk carrier that travels from Jubail, Saudi Arabia to India, according to Marine Traffic. Meanwhile, the ship Sanmar Herald was carrying crude oil from Iraq to India.
“Let me go back”
An audio recording has now emerged, reportedly from the Sanmar Herald, in which the sailor says from the ship: “You’ve given me permission to go. My name is second on your list. You’re shooting now. Let me go back.”
HT was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the viral video.
India lodges a protest
The Ministry of External Affairs lodged a strong protest with Iran and summoned the Iranian ambassador to India over the matter.
Tehran’s envoy, Dr. Mohammad Fatahli, was summoned to the meeting at 6:30 p.m. The envoy met with the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran Office during the meeting.
A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said that the Foreign Minister conveyed India’s deep concern over the firing incident and stressed the importance India attaches to the safety of commercial shipping and seafarers.
Read also | “India-Iran relationship is strong”: Tehran representative after shooting at oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz
The statement added: “Emphasizing his concern over this serious incident of firing on commercial ships, the Foreign Minister urged the Ambassador to convey India’s views to the authorities in Iran and to resume the process of facilitating ships bound for India through the Strait as soon as possible. The Iranian Ambassador pledged to convey these views to the Iranian authorities.”
The Strait of Hormuz is still in the eye of the storm
The Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway that serves as a passage for about 20 percent of the world’s crude oil shipments, remains at the eye of the storm – which began with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
A senior Iranian official said on Saturday that the strategic waterway will not be opened until the United States lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports, warning that reaching a final peace agreement is still “far away.”
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said during a televised speech that some “progress” had been made in the talks with the United States, “but there are many gaps and some basic points remain.”
“We are still far from the final discussion,” Ghalibaf said.
Tensions are rising as a two-week ceasefire expires on Wednesday, unless it is extended or a peace deal is reached.
