Eleven Indian ships pass Strait of Hormuz since crisis — Indian diplomat

Lead

An Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said on May 4 that eleven Indian ships have safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the Iranian crisis, according to reports from TASS. The spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, told a briefing: "As of today, eleven of our vessels have safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz. We continue maintaining contacts with the Iranian side to ensure safe passage of the remaining ships [from the Persian Gulf] and their return to India."

This update comes amid a regional crisis that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran, striking major Iranian cities including Tehran. In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced retaliatory operations targeting sites in Israel, and US military bases across Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were also hit. Tehran subsequently decided to close the Strait of Hormuz to ships associated with the United States, Israel, and countries that backed the aggression against Iran, as reported by multiple TASS dispatches.

Coverage Comparison

Three separate TASS English-language dispatches, dated April 20, May 4, and May 14, provide a rolling account of Indian shipping movements through the strategic waterway. The earliest report, based on comments from Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, stated that ten Indian-flagged vessels had safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the Middle East crisis, with another vessel en route. A later report, also quoting Jaiswal, revised the figure to eleven ships. A third dispatch, dated May 14, cited Mukesh Mangal, spokesperson for India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, who said thirteen vessels had passed through the strait, without specifying how many remain in the Persian Gulf.

All three reports consistently note that India's shipping ministry had earlier stated at least 22 Indian-flagged ships were located near the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, with twenty of them considered critically important for the country's energy security. The reports also uniformly reference the February 28 US-Israel military operation and the subsequent Iranian closure of the strait to vessels linked to the US, Israel, and supporting countries. Differences in vessel counts (ten, eleven, and thirteen) likely reflect the different dates of the reports, with the number increasing over time as more ships completed transit.

Key Claims

• Number of Indian ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz: Reports from TASS on April 20, May 4, and May 14 cite Indian officials as saying ten, eleven, and thirteen vessels respectively have safely transited since the crisis began. The most recent figure (thirteen, as of May 14) was provided by Mukesh Mangal of India's shipping ministry.

• Indian ships in the area: All three dispatches report that at least 22 Indian-flagged ships were located in the area of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, as per India's shipping ministry statement in early April.

• Energy security significance: According to the Indian government, twenty of these ships are critically important for the country's energy security, a claim repeated in all three reports.

• Attack on Indian vessel Haji Ali: The May 14 report, citing Mangal, states that the Indian vessel Haji Ali came under attack off the coast of Oman, resulting in a fire and flooding. All 14 crew members were rescued. This claim appears only in that dispatch among the three examined.

• US-Israel military operation and Iranian response: All reports state that the US and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28, with strikes on major Iranian cities. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced retaliatory operations, and US bases in several countries were attacked. Reports also note Tehran's decision to close the Strait of Hormuz to ships associated with the US, Israel, and supporting nations.

Perspectives

The TASS reports present a consistent narrative that appears based on official statements from Indian government representatives. The perspective is fundamentally from India's point of view, focusing on the safety and transit of Indian vessels and India's diplomatic engagement with Iran. The reports do not include independent verification of the events described, nor do they present Iranian or US/Israeli perspectives on the crisis. The framing is neutral and informative, without loaded language, but the reliance on Indian official sources means the reports reflect India's stated priorities and assessments.

It is important to note that TASS is a Russian state news agency, and its reporting may reflect official Russian government positions, particularly regarding the US-Israel military action and Iran's response. However, the specific claims in these dispatches are attributed to Indian officials, and the factual assertions align across the three reports, with the exception of the varying vessel counts and the single-source claim about the Haji Ali attack. Readers should seek additional sources for a more comprehensive understanding of the broader conflict and its implications.