Strait of Hormuz: India condemns tanker attacks as two Indian seafarers go missing
By Shamyak
Published
Two tankers with 22 Indian crew were hit on 11 October; two sailors are missing. Iran says Hormuz stays shut until seven conditions are met, and about half of India's crude came through it before the war.
Original report
As of 12 October 2026, 12:00 IST
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has condemned attacks on two tankers with Indian crews near the Strait of Hormuz on 11 October 2026, in which two Indian seafarers are missing, Business Today and Daily Jagran reported (Business Today, 2026a; Daily Jagran, 2026). The MEA called for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy, and the Indian Embassy is coordinating search and rescue with Omani authorities.
The stakes for India go beyond the two ships. Before the war, about half of India's crude imports passed through Hormuz, according to Kpler data reported in February (Business Today, 2026b), and Iran says the strait stays shut until its conditions are met.
What we know
- MT Valthera (Marshall Islands flag) was hit by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on 11 October; a fire broke out, and all 11 Indian crew are safe (Business Today, 2026a; Daily Jagran, 2026).
- MT Petro Dolphin (Nicaragua flag) was hit by a drone at Sohar Anchorage off Oman the same day. Of its 11 Indian crew, nine were rescued and two are missing (Business Today, 2026a; Daily Jagran, 2026).
- On 6 October, MT On Peace was hit, and 11 Indian sailors were among 12 injured. Business Today counted seven tanker attacks in the first week of October; we found that count in one outlet only (Business Today, 2026a).
The MEA's words were measured, and the reason sits in the numbers further down.
What India's foreign ministry said
The MEA condemned the attacks and called for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy (Business Today, 2026a; Daily Jagran, 2026). "The recurring attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply concerning," the MEA said, as reported by Daily Jagran (Daily Jagran, 2026). We could not open the MEA's own page, so its full text is not quoted here.
The statement does not name an attacker, and neither does any source we read: the Valthera was hit by an "unknown projectile".
Iran's seven conditions are not public in detail
Iran says the strait will not reopen until its terms are met. "Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until our seven conditions" are met, Iranian official Qalibaf said, Baird Maritime reported in September (Baird Maritime, 2026). No report we opened lists the seven conditions, so we do not.
Iran now calls the latest US response to its proposal "insufficient", according to an Economic Times headline (Economic Times, 2026). Mohsen Rezaei said Washington had accepted some conditions but its response was inadequate, a Mint headline said (Mint, 2026). We could not open either article.
What a shut Hormuz means for India's oil
- About 50% of India's crude imports passed through Hormuz in January-February 2026, up from 40% in November-December 2025, Kpler data showed, Business Today reported on 28 February 2026 (Business Today, 2026b).
- That was 2.6 million barrels a day, said Kpler analyst Sumit Ritolia (Business Today, 2026b).
- About 20% of global oil consumption passes through the strait, the same report said (Business Today, 2026b).
These are pre-war figures; no source we read gives India's current share. Nor does any source put a number on fuel prices in India. Ritolia warned that "Brent prices could rise even before physical shortages materialise", and Business Today reported freight and insurance costs would also rise (Business Today, 2026b).
For the full sequence since February, read Iran war timeline: US, Israel and Iran from 28 February to 11 October, and India's stakes. See how every outlet covered it.
What we don't know yet
- Who launched the attacks on the two tankers.
- What happened to the two missing seafarers. Their names have not been published, and we do not name them.
- What Iran's seven conditions are, and how much of India's crude still moves through Hormuz today.
Questions people are asking
What did India say about the Strait of Hormuz attacks?
The MEA condemned the attacks on 11 October and called for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy (Business Today, 2026a).
Were Indian sailors hurt?
Two Indian crew members from MT Petro Dolphin are missing; all 11 Indian crew of MT Valthera are safe (Daily Jagran, 2026).
How much of India's crude passes through Hormuz?
About 50% in January-February 2026, according to Kpler data reported by Business Today (Business Today, 2026b).
What are Iran's seven conditions?
Not known yet from reports we could open.
What happens next
The search for the two missing seafarers continues, with the Indian Embassy working with Omani authorities (Business Today, 2026a).
References
- Baird Maritime (2026) Reopening Strait of Hormuz depends on seven conditions, Iran says. Baird Maritime. Available at: Reopening Strait of Hormuz depends on seven conditions, Iran says (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
- Business Today (2026a) Two tankers carrying Indian seafarers hit in Strait of Hormuz & Oman, MEA condemns strikes. Business Today. Available at: Two tankers carrying Indian seafarers hit in Strait of Hormuz & Oman (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
- Business Today (2026b) US-Israel strike on Iran: Attack puts 50% of India's oil imports at risk via Hormuz. Business Today. Available at: Attack puts 50% of India's oil imports at risk via Hormuz (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
- Daily Jagran (2026) 'Deeply Concerning': India Condemns Attacks On Two Ships In Hormuz After Two Indians Go Missing. Daily Jagran. Available at: India Condemns Attacks On Two Ships In Hormuz (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
- Economic Times (2026) Iran calls latest US response to proposal insufficient. Economic Times. Available at: Iran calls latest US response to proposal insufficient (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
- Mint (2026) Mohsen Rezaei says Washington accepted some conditions to reopen Hormuz but response inadequate. Mint. Available at: Mohsen Rezaei says Washington accepted some conditions (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
How we did this
On 12 October we read the MEA statement as reported by Business Today and Daily Jagran, and Iran's position as reported by Baird Maritime. For India's oil exposure we used Kpler data reported by Business Today in February and kept its date. The Economic Times and Mint articles could not be opened, so we used their headlines only and say so. The MEA's own website could not be opened either.
This story was produced, reviewed, edited and verified by the reporter before publication, with AI assistance where required.
Covered by 6 outlets across the spectrum: 0% left, 83% center, 17% right.
Who is covering this story
- Center (4): Economic Times, Baird Maritime, Business Today, Mint
- Right-leaning (1): Daily Jagran
Sources
- Iran calls latest US response to proposal — Economic Times (center) ·
- Reopening Strait of Hormuz depends on seven conditions, Iran says — Baird Maritime (center) ·
- US Israel strike on Iran: Attack puts 50% of India’s oil imports at risk via Hormuz - BusinessToday — Business Today (center) ·
- Two tankers carrying Indian seafarers hit in Strait of Hormuz & Oman, MEA condemns strikes - BusinessToday — Business Today (center) ·
- US-Iran war: Mohsen Rezaei says Washington accepted some conditions to reopen Hormuz, but ‘response inadequate’ | Today News — Mint (center) ·
- 'Deeply Concerning': India Condemns Attacks On Two Ships In Hormuz After 2 Indians Go Missing — Daily Jagran (right-leaning) ·