India Restricts Seafarer Deployment After US Navy Attacks Ships

The Government of India has restricted the deployment of Indian seafarers to conflict zones in the Persian Gulf following a series of US Navy missile attacks on commercial vessels. Between June 8 and 11, 2026, US forces targeted the MT Marivex, MT Settebello, and MT Jalveer off the coast of Oman. The US Central Command claimed the vessels violated a blockade by attempting to transport Iranian oil, though the manager of the Settebello disputed these claims. The strike on the Settebello killed three Indian crew members, while other vessels sustained engine and steering damage.

In response, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the Ministry of External Affairs of India summoned US Charge d'Affaires Jason Meeks and contacted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to lodge strong protests. India characterized the use of lethal force against civilian shipping as unjustified and unacceptable. Simultaneously, the Indian Embassy in Oman coordinated search and rescue efforts for 14 crew members aboard the Indian-flagged vessel Virat 1 following a separate incident.

The crisis has prompted a strategic shift in New Delhi. India is reportedly reviewing its strategic tilt toward the US-Israeli axis in favor of increased engagement with Iran. This transition toward a more transactional relationship with the United States coincides with negotiations to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding to lift the American naval blockade of Iranian ports.