India is one of the largest contributors of sailors to merchant shipping worldwide, with more than 320,000 active seafarers in 2025, according to officials.
On Tuesday, the Indian foreign ministry said attacks on commercial shipping in the region were “deeply worrisome”.
“The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end,” it said.
The attack came as Tehran announced it was closing the Strait of Hormuz and launched missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbours in retaliation for US strikes.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passed before the war broke out on Feb 28, is a major point of contention between the US and Iran.