India has summoned Iranian diplomats after Tehran’s strikes in the Strait of Hormuz killed an Indian sailor and injured eight crew members.

India’s move followed the UAE’s announcement that Iranian missiles struck the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah tankers in Omani waters. Among the injured, six are Indian and two are Ukrainian, Indian media reported.

UAE’s Ministry of Defense condemned the attack, saying it reserved the full right to respond by whatever means necessary to protect its sovereignty, citizens, stability, and security.

Iran released a statement claiming it fired at the ship because it was “offending” and “non-compliant” with Iran’s protocols. The IRGC accused the United States of facilitating the passing of vessels through an “illegal route.” The Iranian armed forces also warned the route was full of dangerous mines.

The Indian External Affairs Ministry urged “immediate de-escalation of tensions” in the region and labelled the attack as “deeply worrisome.”

The latest incident marks a dangerous escalation in one of the world’s most critical shipping chokepoints. Iran’s implication that the tankers violated its protocols raises questions over who has the authority to regulate commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz, even in Omani waters.

It comes after President Donald Trump told Fox News on Monday that the US was “going to keep the Strait” and “probably run it” with a 20 percent fee to protect cargo shipments. Iran rejected Trump’s proposal to control Hormuz and declared it closed.

The key question now is whether the attack remains an isolated maritime event or becomes a recurring feature in the wider military struggle for control over the Strait of Hormuz.