By Monsurat Abisoye
Three Indian nationals have been confirmed dead following a United States attack on the Palau-flagged oil tanker Settebello, which Washington accused of violating its naval blockade on Iranian ports.
India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced the deaths in a statement posted on X on Thursday, describing the incident as a “profound loss” to India’s maritime community.
“The Modi government stands firmly with the bereaved during this difficult hour and is fully committed to supporting the next of kin,” Sonowal said, adding that the bodies of the missing Indians had been recovered and identified.
The attack occurred amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. The US imposed a naval blockade on Iran in April after Tehran tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas shipments, following the outbreak of war in late February.
The US military’s Central Command said the Settebello had attempted to transport Iranian oil in violation of the blockade. American forces reportedly fired into the vessel’s engine room on Wednesday to stop it.
The head of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a United Nations agency, condemned the attack on the tanker. According to the IMO, 43 attacks on international shipping have been recorded in the region since the conflict began.
On Thursday morning, another tanker operating near the location where the Settebello was struck, off the coast of Oman, experienced an engine room fire. The United Kingdom Maritime Operations centre reported the incident, although the cause of the fire had not been immediately established. Initial suspicion centred on another possible US strike.
Meanwhile, Iran responded to overnight American attacks by launching strikes against targets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, countries considered key US allies in the Gulf region.
The latest exchange of hostilities came despite a fragile ceasefire that remains officially in place. Iran and the United States traded attacks for a second consecutive night, raising concerns about the ceasefire’s survival.
US President Donald Trump had earlier warned Tehran that it would “pay the price” over the lack of progress toward a peace agreement. Iran, however, maintained that it would continue enforcing its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a move that has disrupted global energy supplies and contributed to rising oil prices.
American airstrikes carried out overnight reportedly targeted multiple Iranian cities and appeared more intense than previous operations. However, Iranian authorities did not disclose details about the locations affected.
Kuwait subsequently closed its airspace following the attacks, although officials did not provide information about possible damage. Jordan also refrained from officially acknowledging the strikes, but the US Embassy in Amman issued warnings related to the situation.
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said Iranian drone attacks had resulted in injuries and property damage within the kingdom.
In a statement shared on X, the ministry said an 11-year-old girl sustained minor injuries and received treatment. It added that vehicles were burned and homes damaged in Hamad Town and the capital, Manama, following the interception and destruction of Iranian drones by Bahraini authorities.
The US Central Command said its latest military operation concluded shortly before sunrise on Thursday. According to the command, the strikes were conducted in response to “Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression” and targeted military surveillance systems, communication infrastructure and air defence installations.
Explosions were reported in Tehran, the Iranian capital, as well as in Bandar Abbas and other areas bordering the Strait of Hormuz.
In Israel, authorities also issued warnings for residents in northern communities to seek shelter following the detection of suspected incoming fire from Lebanon.
The latest hostilities mark the third major exchange of attacks this week, following earlier confrontations between Iran and Israel and subsequent military engagements between Washington and Tehran.
Although President Trump has repeatedly urged Iran to agree to a deal to end the conflict, negotiations appear to have stalled. Iran continues to demonstrate resilience despite sustained military pressure and retains significant leverage through its control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump claimed that the US military had undertaken a “secret mission” since last month to facilitate oil shipments through the strait despite Iran’s restrictions. He alleged that vessels were moving through the waterway under the cover of darkness, aided by the destruction of Iranian radar systems, allowing approximately 100 million barrels of oil to bypass the blockade.
However, there was no immediate independent confirmation of the figure, which is roughly equivalent to five days’ worth of oil shipments through the strait before the conflict began.
With midterm elections approaching in November, the Trump administration appears eager to secure a diplomatic breakthrough. However, major disagreements remain.
The United States is demanding that Iran relinquish its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, arguing that the material could quickly be converted into weapons-grade levels despite Tehran’s insistence that its nuclear programme is intended solely for peaceful purposes.
Iran has rejected the demand, insisting on sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets before any final agreement is reached. Tehran has also maintained that any peace deal must include an end to hostilities involving its ally, Hezbollah, and Israel.
At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continued to pursue objectives that could complicate negotiations, including the dismantling of Iran’s theocratic leadership and the destruction of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.
The escalating conflict has intensified concerns over regional stability, global energy security and the prospects for a negotiated end to the war.