An Indian national has reportedly been killed in an attack carried out by Iran using a "suicide" boat against a US-owned oil tanker near Iraq. US-owned and Marshal Island-flagged oil tanker Safesea Vishnu was attacked off Khor Al Zubair port inside Iraq's territorial waters by an Iranian "suicide" boat, sources told PTI.
An Indian national, whose name is being withheld at the moment, has reportedly been killed in the attack, while the remaining 27 crew and personnel on the oil tanker have been rescued and taken to Basra, the sources said. PTI Sources close to Safesea, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the company is devastated to learn of the loss of the Indian national in the attack.
The Indian embassy in Iraq, confirming the death, said 15 other Indian crew members onboard the ship were evaluated. Commercial ships in the Persian Gulf have been targeted by the Iranian military in the last few days. "On March 11, 2026, a US-owned crude oil tanker, Safesea Vishnu, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked near Basra, Iraq, in which one Indian crew member unfortunately lost his life," the Indian embassy in Iraq said on social media.
"The remaining 15 Indian crew have since been evacuated to a safe place," it said.
The embassy said it is in regular contact with Iraqi authorities and rescued Indian sailors and is offering all possible assistance to them.
Safesea urges govt to condemn attack
They have called for the Indian government to strongly condemn the attack and take urgent action to ensure the safety of crew onboard ships in the region amid the escalating West Asia conflict.
The news agency sources voiced concern that as Indians constitute over 15 per cent of the seafarers globally, irrespective of whichever ship Iran targets, Indian nationals will be "collateral damage".
According to information on website Vessel Finder, the 228.6 meters long and 32.57 meters wide Safesea Vishnu is a crude oil tanker built in 2007, currently sailing under the flag of Marshall Islands. It has a gross tonnage of 42010 and deadweight tonnage of 73976.
India expresses concern
India on Wednesday expressed concern over attacks targeting commercial shipping in the ongoing West Asia conflict, following missile strikes on a Thai-flagged cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said it had taken note of reports about the attack on the Thai bulk carrier Mayuree Naree while it was sailing through the Strait.
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Earlier on Wednesday, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the killings of two Indians, and added one went missing when the merchant vessel they were on board came under attack during the West Asia crisis.
The welfare of a diaspora is of utmost priority, high priority and importance to us," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to several leaders in the region, including leaders from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Israel, while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has also been in regular touch with his counterparts in these countries, as also Iran.
"We remain committed to the welfare of our citizens, our nationals who reside in the GCC and the West Asian countries. All our missions in the region are in regular touch with our community members. They issued advisories and regularly updating them," he said.
(With inputs from agency)