The Embassy of India in Oman confirmed the rescue of five Indian nationals from the MT Kazimah III, a Kuwait-flagged crude oil tanker, after the vessel sustained projectile damage in the Strait of Hormuz. All five crew members were safely shifted ashore. The embassy credited Omani authorities for their immediate cooperation in the operation.
This incident lands in the midst of a brewing diplomatic deadlock. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi proposed a seven-day roadmap last month that would have kept the strait closed until the sixth day, linking reopening to US sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets. Washington rejected the framework, objecting to upfront economic concessions. The US-Iran war, which began on February 28, has already slashed daily vessel traffic through this critical waterway, which previously handled 20% of global crude and LNG.
New Delhi is on high alert. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that over 4,500 Indian seafarers are currently aboard commercial vessels in the region. This includes 163 crew members on 12 active cargo ships, six of which are India-flagged. The Ministry of Shipping is tracking every movement to ensure welfare.
The next 48 hours will be critical for Indian diplomatic missions in the Gulf. With the US refusing Iran’s peace terms, the risk of further incidents in the Strait remains high, forcing India to maintain a permanent standby for any additional rescue requirements.