New Delhi: A drone strike on an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean on Saturday has sparked a diplomatic row between the United States and Iran, as the former accused the latter of launching the attack from its territory. The incident also prompted a swift response from the Indian Coast Guard, which dispatched a ship and an aircraft to assist the distressed vessel.
The oil tanker, named Chem Pluto, is a Liberian-flagged, Japan-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker that was carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia to Mangalore, India. According to the Pentagon, the tanker was hit by a drone at around 10 a.m. local time (6 a.m. GMT), about 200 nautical miles off the coast of Porbandar, Gujarat. The attack caused a fire on board, which was later extinguished by the crew. No casualties were reported, but the tanker suffered some damage and ran aground in the Indian Ocean.
The Pentagon said that the drone attack was carried out by Iran, based on intelligence and previous patterns of behavior. This is the seventh such attack on a commercial ship by Iran since 2021, the Pentagon claimed, adding that it was a “clear violation of international law and a threat to regional security and stability”. The Pentagon also said that it was coordinating with its allies and partners to hold Iran accountable and deter further attacks.
Iran, however, denied any involvement in the attack and dismissed the US allegations as “baseless and fabricated”. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said that the US was trying to create a “false narrative” to justify its “hostile and interventionist policies” in the region. He also said that Iran was ready to cooperate with the relevant authorities to investigate the incident and find the truth.
Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) launched a rescue operation to help the Chem Pluto and its crew. The ICG said that it received a distress call from the tanker at around 11:30 a.m. local time and immediately deployed its ship ICGS Vikram and a Dornier aircraft to the location. The ICG also established communication with the vessel’s agent and assured all assistance.
The ICGS Vikram, which is the first indigenously built offshore patrol vessel of the ICG, reached the Chem Pluto at around 3 p.m. local time and escorted it to Mumbai for further inspection and repairs. The ICG said that the Dornier aircraft flew over the tanker and ensured the safety of the ship and its crew. The ICG also said that the 22 crew members on board, including 21 Indians and one Israeli, were safe and in good health.
The ICG praised the professionalism and courage of the Chem Pluto’s crew, who managed to contain the fire and prevent any environmental damage. The ICG also said that it was in touch with the relevant authorities and agencies to coordinate the response and investigation of the incident.
