After the firing incident on two Indian vessels by the IRGC on April 18, the Indian Navy has tightened the security grid near the Strait of Hormuz.
The Indian Navy has issued a fresh advisory to Indian-flagged vessels in the Persian Gulf, asking them to stay clear of Larak Island and transit only when directed by it to ensure safety.
Sources told India Today that the Indian Navy is prioritising security for all Indian vessels waiting to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
Eleven Indian vessels have already crossed the strait so far. The last tanker, Desh Garima, crossed on April 18 -- the same day two Indian vessels, Jag Arnav and Sanmar Herald, had to turn back after being fired upon by Iranian Guards while attempting the passage.
After crossing the strait, Desh Garima is now being escorted by the Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea and is expected to arrive in Mumbai on April 22.
Larak Island sits at the narrowest point of the Strait of Hormuz and is home to a major portion of Iran’s oil infrastructure. As it is critical to Iran’s energy sector, the surrounding waters are heavily guarded, and traffic through Hormuz is closely monitored through a network of bunkers and radar systems.
According to reports, several Iranian bases operate there as well, capable of deploying smaller, faster boats to target vessels.
The Larak Island is located south of the Hormuz island in the near 33 kilometre wide Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which 20 per cent of oil used to transit daily before the Iran-US war broke.
Fourteen Indian ships are still in the Persian Gulf, waiting to cross Hormuz. The Indian Navy remains in constant communication with these vessels and has advised them to move only after clearance.
Seven Indian Navy ships have been deployed in close proximity to the Persian Gulf and are escorting Indian vessels once they cross the Strait of Hormuz.
Curated by Aisha Patel
