Trump accuses Iran of attacking Indian ships exiting Strait of Hormuz as India protests US strikes

New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Friday accused Iran of carrying out a drone attack on Indian ships leaving the Strait of Hormuz, calling it “totally unacceptable” in a Truth Social post. The remarks came amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region and fresh concerns over the safety of international shipping routes.

Trump said Iran’s “totally rebuffed” drone attack the previous night targeted Indian ships exiting Hormuz. He did not specify which Indian vessels he was referring to. However, between Monday and Thursday, US military forces struck three foreign-flagged vessels carrying Indian crew members off the coast of Oman. The strikes resulted in the deaths of three Indian seafarers who were aboard the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello.

Soon after Trump’s post, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei condemned the US attacks on vessels carrying Indian crew, saying they “threaten global peace and security”. Baqaei accused Washington of pursuing a policy of “armed robbery and state piracy” and expressed condolences to the families of the slain Indian sailors.

Earlier on Friday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned the US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks for the second time to register its protest against continued American strikes on ships with Indian crew in West Asia. New Delhi said it had “once again conveyed its deep concern over the use of lethal and deadly force against civilian shipping” and described the actions as unacceptable and harmful to the safety and stability of international maritime trade.

The ministry asked Meeks to convey India’s concerns to Washington and ensure that US military units operating in the region prevent further loss of civilian life. The incident has intensified public anger in India and added new friction to already strained relations between New Delhi and Washington.

Separately, Trump accused Iran of leaking inaccurate details about a proposed peace agreement with Washington. “The terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have nothing to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing,” he wrote on social media, calling Iranians “very dishonourable people to deal with” and urging them to “get their act together, and fast!”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi urged caution against speculation about the proposed deal, saying the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding had “never been closer” to being finalised and that media outlets should refrain from speculating about its contents.