Trump alleges Iran targeted Indian vessels near Hormuz amid India-U.S. row over sailor deaths
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In a Truth Social post, Donald Trump said Iran’s leaked deal terms had “NOTHING to do” with what was agreed “in writing” and called an alleged attack on Indian ships in the Strait of Hormuz “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,” even as New Delhi pressed Washington over the U.S. strike on a tanker in the Gulf of Oman that left three Indian mariners dead.
US President Donald Trump | Credits: Getty
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday accused Iran of leaking versions of a proposed peace deal and said the terms bore no resemblance to what had been accepted in writing by Tehran. In a post on Truth Social, he said the reported terms had “NOTHING to do” with the real agreement and described Iranian officials as “Very dishonorable people to deal with.”
In the same post, Trump also claimed there had been a drone attack by Iran on Indian ships leaving the Strait of Hormuz and called it “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.”
“The terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing,” Trump wrote. “Their statement today bears no relation to the Truth. They are very dishonorable people to deal with. With them, there is no such thing as dealing in good faith. AMAZING!”
Referring to the alleged attack, he added: “Their totally rebuffed Drone attack last night against Indian Ships leaving the Hormuz Strait is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. They better get their act together, and FAST!”
Neither India nor Iran had issued a statement regarding the allegation until the time of publication.
Vessel carrying Indian sailors targeted by U.S. strikes
Trump's remarks come amid growing tensions between New Delhi and Washington after three U.S. attacks on merchant vessels carrying Indian crew members in the Gulf region within four days.
The first incident involved the Palau-flagged tanker Marivex on June 8. The vessel, carrying 24 Indian crew members, was disabled by U.S. forces in the Gulf of Oman. All crew members were rescued and no fatalities were reported.
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A second strike took place on June 10 when the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello, carrying 24 Indian mariners, was hit in the Gulf of Oman. According to the U.S. military, the crew had “repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces.” Twenty-one crew members were rescued, while three Indian sailors were later confirmed dead.
The deceased were identified as Patnala Suresh, Aditya Sharma and Shivanand Chaurashiya.
“It is deeply unfortunate to learn of the tragic incident aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello,” Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said in a statement on Thursday.
A third incident was reported on June 11 involving the Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker Jalveer, which had around 20 Indian crew members on board. The crew was safely evacuated and no casualties were reported.
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India's sharp protest
The Ministry of External Affairs said the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks was summoned and that “a strong protest was lodged” over “the continuing attacks by U.S. naval forces on commercial vessels carrying Indian mariners in the Gulf of Oman,” which had “already resulted in the tragic and avoidable loss of three Indian lives.”
The ministry also said it had conveyed its “deep concern over the use of lethal and deadly force against civilian shipping,” adding that such actions are “unacceptable and undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce in a sensitive region at a difficult time.”