An Indian sailor was killed and 17 others rescued after a dhow carrying Indian crew members caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz, with four injured currently undergoing treatment in Dubai.
The incident occurred on Friday when the wooden vessel, carrying general cargo and manned by 18 Indian crew members, caught fire in waters close to the strategic maritime route.
“In this incident, one Indian on the dhow died while four received burn injuries. The injured are receiving medical treatment in Dubai and are safe,” a source said.
According to sources, the rescued crew members were picked up by a passing vessel operating in the region after the fire broke out. The cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained, and investigations are under way.
Officials from the Indian Consulate in Dubai met the rescued sailors on Friday night. The mission is in touch with the owner of the dhow and is providing all possible assistance to those affected.
The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors, handling a significant share of global oil and gas shipments.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region involving Iran and the United States. Recent weeks have seen sporadic exchanges of fire despite a ceasefire announced earlier.
Also read: US hits Iran after destroyers attacked by Iran in Hormuz
The US Central Command has said it launched strikes on Iranian positions after its naval assets allegedly came under attack in the region. Iran, in turn, has accused the US of targeting its vessels and violating the ceasefire, including strikes near key locations such as Qeshm Island.
While both sides have signalled a relative easing of tensions, shipping movement through the Strait has been affected in recent months due to security concerns, with traffic reportedly slowing amid fears of attacks on commercial vessels.
Authorities are continuing efforts to determine the exact circumstances of the fire, even as support is being extended to the affected crew members.
Iran says US peace deal ‘under review’ as Trump waits
Meanwhile, Tehran said it is still reviewing a US proposal aimed at extending a fragile ceasefire and initiating peace talks, even as Donald Trump signalled impatience over the delayed response.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the proposal remains “under review”, without specifying a timeline, while Trump told reporters he expected a reply “tonight”, adding, “we’ll find out soon enough” if the delay was deliberate.
The proposal, sent earlier this week, is seen as a potential pathway to ending the 10-week conflict between Iran and the United States, which has led to significant casualties and disrupted global energy markets.
It reportedly includes provisions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing US restrictions on Iranian ports, though a broader agreement on Tehran’s nuclear programme would still require further negotiations.
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