In the Gulf of Oman
USA shells oil tanker – three dead sailors discovered
Updated June 11, 2026 – 11:45 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
The shelling of a tanker off Oman intensifies the dispute over the US blockade of Iranian ports. India protests sharply after the deaths of three sailors.
The US military fired on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that was allegedly carrying Iranian oil and ignoring instructions. According to Indian information, 21 sailors were rescued in the incident on Wednesday and three Indian crew members were found dead. The bodies have been discovered and identified, Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal wrote on Platform X.
The US Central Command announced that the engine room of the “Settebello”, which was flying the flag of the Pacific island state of Palau, had been fired upon. The crew repeatedly ignored instructions from US forces and the ship violated the ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran. The operator of the “Settebello” is based in India.
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India summoned the US deputy chief of mission and lodged a strong protest, two insiders told Reuters. The Indian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack. “The crackdown on merchant shipping and civil infrastructure in the region must end,” it said.
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“Settebello” sends out an emergency call – Oman’s navy moves out
The British maritime authority UKMTO reported a fire in the engine room of the chemical and oil tanker about 20 nautical miles northeast of the Omani port of Sohar. The Omani navy responded to a distress call from the “Settebello”, as the British risk management company Vanguard announced.
Secretary-General of the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, condemned the incident. Any act that endangers the lives of seafarers and the safety of international shipping is unacceptable. His thoughts are with the families of the victims and with everyone who is waiting for news from crew members.
The USA imposed a blockade on ships with connections to Iran on April 13th. Iran previously severely restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important routes for oil and gas. Since the blockade began, US forces say they have disabled eight ships that defied their orders. 134 ships were diverted, while 42 ships carrying humanitarian aid were allowed to pass. No deaths have been reported in connection with these operations.
Only on Monday did US forces put the empty oil tanker “Marivex” out of action in the Gulf of Oman, which, according to them, was attempting to sail to an Iranian port in violation of the ban.
