Trump Blames Iran For Drone Attacks Amid U.S. Strikes That Killed Indian Sailors
U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran of attacking Indian ships in the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. missile strikes killed three Indian sailors, sparking fury in New Delhi and a diplomatic protest.
President Trump blamed Iran for drone attacks on Indian ships, while New Delhi summoned a senior U.S. diplomat over U.S. missile strikes that killed three Indian sailors in the Gulf of Oman.
Trump, Iran, Indian sailors, U.S. missile strikes, Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz, diplomatic protest, Indian Navy, U.S. Navy, United States
In a series of posts on his social media platform, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran of launching drone attacks against Indian ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The accusation came hours after New Delhi summoned a senior U.S. diplomat to the South Block to convey its displeasure over U.S. missile strikes that killed three Indian sailors.
Trump stated that the “totally rebuffed drone attack last night against Indian ships leaving the Hormuz Strait is totally unacceptable” and warned Iran to “get their act together, and FAST.” The President did not comment on the deaths of the Indian sailors.
U.S. Navy and Central Command forces have struck several tankers with Indian crew members in the Gulf of Oman in recent days. These attacks included a strike on the Palau‑flagged MT Settebello, which left three Indian sailors dead. U.S. forces also targeted MT Marivex, a tanker described as “sanctioned,” and rescued 24 Indian crew members who were affected. The U.S. Centcom confirmed the strikes, describing them as precision attacks on engine rooms after the vessels allegedly violated the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, were suspected of transporting Iranian oil, and repeatedly failed to comply with U.S. directions.
According to U.S. reports, an F‑18 Super Hornet from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln fired a precision munition into the engineering and steering spaces of the affected vessels to disable them. One of the ships, MT Marivex, was identified by the Forward Seamen’s Union of India as being 28 km (17 miles) off the coast of Oman, well beyond the Strait of Hormuz referenced by Trump, when struck by U.S. forces.
India has lodged a formal protest against the attacks on ships carrying Indian crew, emphasizing the loss of life and the need for accountability. The incident has heightened tensions in the region and underscored the complex dynamics between the United States, Iran, and India over maritime security in the Gulf.
