Three Indian Sailors Killed in US Strike on Iranian Tanker as Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz, Hits Bahrain and Kuwait

Washington DC / Tehran / Gulf of Oman – Three Indian seafarers were killed in a US attack on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, as the United States launched a second wave of airstrikes on Iran and Tehran responded by targeting US allies Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan in a dramatic escalation of the Middle East crisis.

India's shipping minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed the deaths of the three Indian nationals aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello. "It is deeply unfortunate to learn of the tragic incident aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello. Sadly, three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after bodies have been located and identified," he wrote in a post on X.

The US Central Command accused the Settebello of violating an American blockade on Iranian ports. In a post on X, CENTCOM said: "At 11:14 p.m. on June 9, US forces disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman for the second consecutive day after another vessel violated the ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran." The statement added that a US aircraft "fired precision munitions into the ship's engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces."

Strait of Hormuz 'Closed Until Further Notice'

Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) – a government agency established on May 5 to oversee transit through the Strait of Hormuz – announced the key waterway is "closed until further notice," blaming US strikes in the region.

In a statement carried on Iranian media, the PGSA said: "Due to the tensions created by the US aggression forces in the region and the announcement by the Iranian armed forces last night, the strait of Hormuz will be closed until further notice. Applicants who have received a pass are asked to be patient and await further guidance from the PGSA."

The announcement came shortly after an Iranian official accused the US of striking a cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman this morning. Reza Shahidian, governor of Sirik in southern Hormozgan province – located on the shores of the Strait of Hormuz – said the ship was "carrying essential goods" when it was hit while traveling from an Omani port, according to Iranian media. He added that the crew had been rescued and taken to Oman.

Earlier, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the strait would be "closed to all vessels" – a claim the US Central Command rejected, saying commercial ships continue to transit in and out of the strait.

Second Day of US Strikes on Iran

The United States has launched a wave of strikes across southern Iran for a second consecutive day. Although several breaches have occurred since a ceasefire was agreed between the two sides in April, the attacks this week – launched after the downing of a US helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz – represent the most serious and extensive breakdown of the truce to date.

The US Central Command confirmed that its forces disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman for the second consecutive day, marking a significant escalation in enforcement of the American blockade on Iranian ports.

Iran Strikes US Allies: Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan

Iran responded to US aggression by targeting American allies in the region. Bahrain's interior ministry said an 11-year-old girl was injured from falling debris after Iranian drones were intercepted by air defenses in the capital Manama and Hamad Town. The incident also damaged several vehicles and homes, the ministry said in a post on X, with pictures showing scorched cars and buildings.

Kuwait's civil aviation authority announced that air traffic was temporarily suspended due to Iranian attacks, with officials earlier stating that some flights were being diverted to alternative airports after Kuwait confirmed its air defenses were firing at aerial targets. The authority later announced that air traffic had resumed and Kuwait's international airport was working normally, with flights set to resume.

Jordan also reported intercepting aerial targets amid the Iranian barrage, though no casualties were immediately reported.

Pakistan Offers Mediation Amid Escalation

The Pakistani foreign ministry said the country will continue with mediation efforts to end the war despite the escalation in hostilities between the US and Iran.

"Pakistan remains deeply concerned at the situation in the region marked by recent escalation. We appeal to the parties to adhere to the understanding reached on the ceasefire," the ministry spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, told reporters in a briefing.

"Pakistan reaffirms its support for the peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues. We are of the view that diplomacy and dialogue should be the guiding principles for achieving a negotiated settlement of all contentious issues in accordance with the rights and responsibilities of the relevant parties."

Trump's Mixed Messages: 'Hit 'Em Hard' or 'Deal Within Reach'?

On Wednesday in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump warned of a fierce response to Iran's missile and drone attacks on US allies in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, but also claimed that a deal was within reach – creating confusion about the administration's actual position.

"We're gonna hit 'em again hard today … and we'll see what happens with a deal," he said. "We're really close to a deal but they keep on tapping us along, they keep playing us for suckers."

The barrage of White House claims – shifting between imminent deals and threats that "a whole civilization will die tonight" – has kept Trump squarely where he wants to be, dominating the news cycle. However, these contradictory statements have increasingly eroded trust in his declarations, even on life-and-death issues concerning war.

Other leaders appear to be playing on the credibility gap within the US administration. Trump said he planned to tell Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate against Iran this week, but when Israel did strike Iran, Trump claimed in a BBC interview that the "missiles had already gone." He later denied that Netanyahu had defied him, adding that when he tells Netanyahu "to do something, he does it."

Similarly, the US president has repeatedly threatened Tehran with airstrikes on its civil and energy infrastructure – a campaign that many international observers have characterized as a potential war crime – but then repeatedly reverted to diplomacy or ultimatums with two-week windows that are soon forgotten.

The Trump administration is once again stuck, unable to translate its military superiority into political acquiescence, with little indication of movement on the ground in negotiations other than the president's own volatile posts to Truth Social.

Global Implications: Oil Prices and Trade Routes

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz – through which approximately 20% of the world's oil passes – threatens to send global energy prices skyrocketing. The strait is a critical chokepoint connecting Middle Eastern oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Iran's threat to close the waterway has been a recurring feature of tensions with the West, but actual closure would represent a dramatic escalation with severe consequences for the global economy. Oil prices surged in early trading following the announcement, with analysts warning of potential supply shocks if the closure persists.

The United States has previously stated it would use military force to keep the strait open, setting the stage for potential direct naval confrontation between US and Iranian forces.