08 June,2026 05:44 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
The tanker was empty and positioned well outside the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route impacted by regional tensions. Representational pic
A fire broke out aboard an oil tanker carrying 24 Indian seafarers off the coast of Oman on Monday, even as Israel and Iran exchanged fresh attacks in their first major escalation since the ceasefire.
The Madagascar-flagged MT Marivex reported the fire around 1.30 pm, Opesh Kumar Sharma, a director in India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said at a news briefing.
Sharma declined to comment on the cause of the fire but confirmed that the vessel had 24 Indian crew members on board. The tanker was empty and positioned well outside the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route impacted by regional tensions.
"This is the preliminary information which we have received... as per available information, all Indian seafarers are safe," Sharma said.
"We are coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, our missions abroad, Indian Navy, Ministry of Defence, to ensure their safety."
Ship-tracking data showed the vessel at anchor south of Muscat. The tanker issued a distress call after reportedly coming under attack while sailing toward the Omani port of Duqm, according to preliminary reports.
The incident occurred amid renewed hostilities between Israel and Iran. Israel on Monday struck a petrochemical facility in southwestern Iran and carried out attacks on other military targets, despite reports that US President Donald Trump had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid further military action.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accused the United States of violating the ceasefire and said it had retaliated by launching missiles at a similar facility in the Israeli city of Haifa.
Indian authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of the seafarers. Further details are awaited.
US President Donald Trump on Monday told Iran and Israel to stop fighting after the two foes attacked each other's territory for the first time since a shaky ceasefire put five weeks of war on hold.
Iran fired dozens of missiles at Israel overnight and Israel responded by targeting military sites in the Islamic republic, sparking fears the escalation could usher in a new full-scale conflict after the April 8 truce.
With Israel's response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apparently defied calls by his ally Trump for restraint, against the background of reports of an increasingly testy relationship between the two men.
"Israel and Iran must immediately stop 'shooting.' President DONALD J. TRUMP," the US leader wrote on his Truth Social network.
Minutes later, he added in a new post that "final negotiations" towards peace were proceeding "subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way."
Tehran's strikes followed attacks by Israel against targets of the Iran-backed Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Iran had repeatedly warned it would strike Israel if the Lebanese capital was targeted.
The developments come amid heightened tensions in the region, with both sides exchanging fresh attacks. Further updates on the situation are awaited.
(With PTI, IANS, and AFP inputs)
