India summons Iran envoy after Indian ships reverse course in Strait of Hormuz

NEW DELHI, April 18 — India summoned Iran’s ambassador in New Delhi on Saturday after two Indian-flagged vessels were forced to reverse course in the Strait of Hormuz following reports of gunfire from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, according to a statement from India’s External Affairs Ministry.

India’s foreign secretary conveyed New Delhi’s “deep concern” over the incident to the Iranian envoy, the ministry said.

According to the statement, the Indian official also noted that Tehran had previously facilitated the safe passage of several ships bound for India.

The foreign secretary urged the ambassador to convey India’s position to the Iranian authorities and to resume, at the earliest, the process of facilitating India-bound ships through the strait, the ministry said.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping route for energy supplies and commercial traffic.