Iran US conflict: Tension in West Asia has once again reached a dangerous point. Iran has announced closure of the Strait of Hormuz until further notice. Immediately after this, America started the third military attack on Iran this week. America alleges that Iran attacked a Cypriot-flagged commercial container ship passing through Hormuz, in response to which this action was taken.

Iran’s claim – stopped because the ship broke the rules

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said that a ship was not following the scheduled sea route and did not change its course despite several warnings. After this, the ship was stopped by firing as a warning. Along with this, Iran announced that no ship will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz until the American intervention ends. Iran also warned that any retaliatory action would be given a strong response.

Iran mentioned the MoU

The official The post also said that as per the MOU, Iran had agreed to arrange safe passage of commercial ships from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of ​​Oman without any charges for 60 days.

This is a reciprocal commitment. One side cannot be expected to comply while the other fails to meet its obligations.

Iranian Arrangement with no charge for 60 days,

Paragraph 5. “Upon the signing of this MOU, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements using its… https://t.co/sipttrIv4o

— Iran In Hyderabad (@IraninHyderabad) July 12, 2026

Air strike on many locations

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), a civilian crew member of the container ship went missing in the Iranian attack and the ship suffered heavy damage due to a fire in the engine room. After this, on the instructions of President Donald Trump, the US Army carried out air strikes on many targets in Iran. US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth said, Iran took a wrong decision, now it will have to pay the price.

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Alert in Gulf countries

There have been reports of explosions in many coastal areas of Iran. Whereas missile and drone alert was issued in United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. The Strait of Hormuz is considered the most important sea route for the world’s oil and gas trade. In such a situation, the possibility of its closure and the increasing US-Iran conflict having a major impact on the global energy supply and oil market has increased.

The sea area from the Oman coast to the Strait of Hormuz has turned red with blood these days. In the last three days, three different ships carrying Indian sailors have been attacked one after the other. First the American army targeted one tanker, then attacked another and now the third ship also caught fire. So far three Indian sailors have died in these attacks. The Indian government took strict action and expressed its displeasure by summoning the American diplomat. Why is this happening, is it the effect of America-Iran war and how big is this problem for India?

First attack (8 June): accurate hit on MT Marivex

The first attack took place on 8 June. Palau Islands-flagged tanker MT Marivex was attacked by US forces. There were 24 Indian sailors on board this ship. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that they carried out this attack because the ship was going towards Iran in violation of the US blockade. No Indian sailor died in this attack. All 24 sailors were rescued safely with the help of Omani authorities.

According to the Central Command, an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft fired a precision missile at the engine and steering part of the ship. The ship will no longer be able to go to Iran.

Second attack (9–10 June): Deadly attack on MT Setebelo

The most dangerous and painful attack took place on the intervening night of 9-10 June. The Palau-flagged tanker MT Setebello was again attacked by the US military. This time the situation was more serious. There were a total of 24 Indian sailors on the ship. The US Central Command once again said that the ship did not follow American orders and was carrying oil from Iran.

American fighter plane fired an accurate missile into the engine room of the ship. There was a stampede after this attack. The ship caught fire and started sinking. 21 Indian sailors were rescued by Omani authorities, but three sailors went missing. Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal later confirmed that all three were killed and that their bodies had been recovered.

Central Command posted on This attack is being described as the first case of death of sailors under the American blockade.

Third attack (11 June): MT Jalveer fire

On June 11, Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker MT Jalveer ran aground near Shinas port in Oman. There were about 20 Indian sailors on this ship. It is not officially clear whether it was an attack or some other incident, but a fire broke out in the engine room of the ship. The Indian Embassy has confirmed this and contacted Omani authorities. After this incident, the sea route has become even more dangerous for Indian sailors.

Why are these attacks happening on Indian ships?

The real reason for these attacks lies in the ongoing war between America and Iran. Come, let us understand the complete mathematics:

• 28 February 2026: America and Israel started the war by attacking Iran.
• Iran’s action: ERan immediately closed the Strait of Hormuz. This route is the main source of supply of 20% of the world’s oil and gas.
• American Blockade: From April 13, America imposed a blockade on every ship going to Iranian ports. America says that no ship can carry oil from Iran.
• Action so far: The US has destroyed 8 ships, diverted 134 ships and allowed only 42 humanitarian aid ships to go.

When a ship tries to break the American blockade, the American military attacks it. This is the reason why these ships with Indian sailors also came under target.

What does India want?

The Indian government is adopting a very strict stance in this entire matter, but very thoughtfully. Because on one hand there are good relations with America, on the other hand the lives of Indian sailors are also at risk.

The very next day (June 10) of the attack, India called US Ambassador Jason Meeks to the Ministry of External Affairs and lodged a strong protest. Nagaraj Naidu, Additional Secretary (America) of the Ministry of External Affairs, talked for about 30 minutes and made it clear that threatening the lives of Indian sailors will not be tolerated.

India also raised this issue in the UN Security Council. India’s permanent representative Harish Parvatneni said, ‘We are strongly against attacks on merchant ships. Many of our citizens work in this area and their lives are in danger.

India’s three main demands:

1. Targeting of merchant ships and civilian infrastructure should be stopped immediately.
2. Movement on international waterways should be restored free and without hindrance.
3. A diplomatic solution to this entire crisis should be found and tension should be reduced.

The Indian government has also said that the attacks on merchant ships are a result of the ongoing conflict in the region.

Why have difficulties increased for India?

This situation has become difficult for India on three fronts:

First difficulty: lives of Indian sailors

Indian sailors have the largest number in the world. According to data from the Indian Shipping Ministry, the proportion of Indians among sailors working on global merchant ships is about 15-20 percent. Thousands of Indian sailors work every day on the sea routes from the Gulf countries to the Strait of Hormuz. This is the reason why when the US Army attacked three ships with Indian crew between June 8 and June 11, this matter emerged as a direct challenge for India.

This is not limited to just these three ships. A total of 10 Indian citizens have been killed since the war between America and Iran started. Manoj Yadav, general secretary of Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI), says that if the ships did not follow US instructions, detaining them was a viable option, not precision missile attack on them. The question is whether the American Army was not aware of the nationality of the boats? And even if it was, why a direct missile attack?

Second problem: Crisis on India’s oil supply

The Strait of Hormuz is not a common sea route. This is the route for about 20 percent of the total oil and gas transport in the world, that is, about 20 million barrels of oil passes through this route every day. Now this route has been closed due to the war between America and Iran. Iran has closed Hormuz, while America has imposed a blockade on every ship going to Iranian ports. So far, the US military has destroyed 8 ships, forced 134 ships to change course and allowed only 42 humanitarian aid ships to pass.

India imports about 88-90 percent of its total energy needs. That means nine out of every ten units of energy comes from abroad:

• Crude Oil: About 40-50 percent of India’s total crude oil needs come through Hormuz. This means that out of every two barrels, the path of one barrel passes through this dangerous strait.
• LPG: This is even more worrying. 60 percent of India’s total LPG needs are imported. 90 percent of this import comes through Hormuz. This means that every cylinder that reaches your kitchen passes through this sea route. According to government data, there are more than 33 crore active domestic LPG connections in India and more than 10 crore Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana connections. If this supply stops, everything from kitchen to politics will be affected.
• LNG: About 50 percent of India’s gas requirement is dependent on imports and 55-60 percent of that import comes through Hormuz.
• Decline in oil imports: Before the war (February 2026), India’s oil imports were 5.2 million barrels per day. In March 2026, it fell to 4.5 million barrels per day i.e. a decline of 13.5 percent. In April it fell further to 4.4 million.

The Indian government claims that the country has about 76 days of crude oil stock and 25-30 days of LPG stock. But this stock is only for emergencies. If the Hormuz crisis lasts for months, then the shortage of LPG will start after 25-30 days. The government has already increased the price of domestic cooking gas by Rs 60 per cylinder and this is just the beginning.

Third difficulty: Diplomatic crisis with America

This is a most delicate matter. On one hand, America is a major strategic partner of India and on the other hand, Indian sailors are dying in attacks by the American army. India has to walk on two tightropes simultaneously, that is, it has to protest and also save relationships.

On June 10, 2026, the Government of India summoned Jason Meeks, Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy, ​​to the Ministry of External Affairs. Nagaraj Naidu, Additional Secretary (America) of the Ministry of External Affairs, talked to him for about half an hour and lodged a ‘strong protest’. India made it clear that actions that endanger the lives of Indian sailors will not be tolerated.

The US Embassy tried to calm the issue by saying that they are in touch with India and are helping in finding the missing sailors. But the real question is will America stop these attacks? No such indication has been found yet. US CENTCOM says they are enforcing the Iranian blockade and will take action against ships that do not follow instructions.

After the American attacks, India may have to rethink its foreign policy. If a friendly country can target your citizens, how much can that friendship be trusted? This question is now being raised in Indian strategic circles.

Experts say that the situation is very critical. America and Iran have started attacking each other again. On June 10 also there were attacks between the two countries. Meanwhile, Iran has threatened to completely close the Strait of Hormuz, while America says that it has control. The Indian government is now making a new strategy. Talks are going on at the diplomatic level.

There is a tussle going on in the politics of the Middle East regarding a possible attack on Iran by the world’s most powerful country, America. In this development, Saudi Arabia is working on its strategy behind the scenes and inciting America to take military action against Iran.

Axios, quoting sources, said in its report that in Washington DC, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman (KBS) held a very important meeting in the presence of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Cain.

The main objective of this meeting was to discuss the possible American attack on Iran and its regional effects. According to the report, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman (KBS) said that if US President Donald Trump does not follow through on his threats to Iran, it will further embolden the Iranian regime. Apart from this, Iran will emerge stronger.

Saudi changed stance regarding possible US action on Iran

This big statement from the Saudi Defense Minister is being considered completely contrary to Saudi Arabia’s public stance till now because till now Riyadh had been openly warning against increasing tension. Apart from this, this statement is also completely contrary to the deep concern of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), which he expressed during his conversation with US President Donald Trump three weeks ago. It is also interesting that it was because of the warning given by Saudi that Trump had decided to postpone his possible military attack in Iran.

What was Iran’s response to Trump’s threat?

In fact, this stance of Saudi Arabia becomes even more important because KBS is considered to be the younger brother of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as well as one of his closest confidants. Who is currently on a tour of America and is having serious talks with the American administration regarding Iran at a time when Western Asia is already under tension regarding possible American military action. At the same time, after US President Donald Trump threatened military action, Iran has also given a befitting reply. Iran has already said that it will give an unmatched response to any kind of attack.

Also read: European Union blacklists IRGC, now Khamenei is preparing to take action against EU, gave this threat

US President Donald Trump has carried out many operations on the soil of other countries in the first year of his second term. A survey has said that during the second term of President Trump, more air and drone attacks have been carried out in foreign countries, whereas before this there were not so many attacks in the entire four-year tenure of former President Joe Biden.

According to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), from January 20, 2025, to January 5, 2026, the US conducted a total of 573 air and drone strikes and a total of 658 strikes on foreign soil, including operations with its coalition partners, compared to 494 strikes and 694 coalition operations during Biden’s four-year term.

A total of 1,093 people died in Trump’s one year military action

The non-profit conflict watchdog said the US was involved in 1,008 foreign military operations in at least nine countries over the past 12 months, resulting in about 1,093 deaths, compared with 1,518 deaths in 1,648 operations throughout Biden’s tenure.

According to a Newsweek report, the deaths under Trump’s rule included at least 110 alleged drug smugglers killed by US forces in the Caribbean Sea and Marines in the eastern Pacific. The report also states that the number of deaths caused by the US attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites in June is not yet known.

Last year, most of the attacks were on Houthi rebels – ACLED

ACLED said that between January and December last year in 2025, more than 80 percent of the attacks were carried out on Yemen’s Houthi rebels, resulting in more than 530 deaths. The watchdog said in its analysis, ‘Foreign attacks in Trump’s first year show a strategy of ‘attack first, ask questions later’.’

The report said, ‘The data show that the Trump administration has emphasized swift, high-impact military action as a first response, which is proceeding faster and with fewer interruptions than in previous years.’

ACLED CEO accuses Trump administration

According to the report of news agency Xinhua, ACLED CEO Cleonard Raleigh said, ‘What we are seeing now in America’s foreign activities is shocking not only for its speed, but also for how openly it challenges the idea that power should be controlled by common rules.’

He said recent operations in countries like Venezuela and Nigeria show how quickly this approach can have an impact. He warned that attention could now shift to places like Greenland, Colombia and Cuba, which should be treated as independent countries with their own political agency rather than targets of control. Raleigh accused the Trump administration of presenting these areas as a manageable problem. He says that these are being shown as areas where America can directly benefit by gaining control over the available resources.

Also read: How much do you know about Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, know who in the family?

US President Donald Trump shared the information on social media at 4:21 am on Saturday (January 3, 2026) about the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro along with his wife after military action in Venezuela. About 10 minutes after Trump shared the post, New York Times White House reporter Tyler Pager called President Trump.

According to the New York Times report, when the pager called Trump, the President picked up the call only after three rings and a conversation took place between the two. Pager said that his colleague in Venezuela, Anatoly Kurmanayev, had sent a message in a group that Caracas had been bombed, due to which he woke up at around 1 am on Saturday.

President Trump’s habit of picking up the phone is quite popular

He said, ‘When the news of the blasts first came, we had a strong suspicion that America was involved in it.’ Official confirmation came at 4:21 a.m., when Trump posted on Truth Social that Maduro had been captured.

According to the report, Pager said, ‘I called him directly and he picked up the call. I was not too surprised because President Trump’s phone picking habits are quite famous; he often picks up calls from journalists himself. The President said hello on the phone and I started asking questions without any delay. I told him that I was speaking from NYT and had some questions regarding this operation.

Four questions asked to Trump in 50 seconds

He further said, ‘In our short conversation the President did not complain that I had called him. However, he did not even give a direct answer to my questions and asked me to watch his press conference to be held after a few hours. Pager said, ‘I could ask only four questions in 50 seconds, after which the President disconnected the phone.’

America has arrested Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro along with his wife and has brought them to New York jail. Here a case will be filed against him in many cases including drugs. Trump had made it clear that until there is a stable government in Venezuela, Washington will run Venezuela. However, at present Vice President Delsey Rodriguez has been appointed the interim President.

Also read: ‘If you have the courage, come and take me’, when Venezuelan President Maduro challenged Donald Trump, Video