The government, on Saturday, dismissed claims that Iran had launched "a heavy strike" on an Indian-flagged oil tanker allegedly called the Oil Brothers Kraft.
The video of the alleged attack on the Indian-flagged tanker went viral amid reports of Tehran attacking vessels attempting to pass through the Hormuz Strait, which it officially closed as a part of the ongoing chaos in the Gulf.
The account that had reposted it, titled 'Iran Press', had even claimed that the Indian vessel had taken "significant damage".
🚨Several handles are circulating a video on social media claiming that #Iran launched a heavy strike on an Indian oil tanker.#PIBFactCheck:
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) March 14, 2026
❌ This claim is fake.
✅ This video has been created using AI technology.
⚠️ Please remain vigilant. Do not forward such sensational… pic.twitter.com/tUSInW03q2
"This claim is fake. This video has been created using AI technology," the Press Information Bureau (PIB) wrote in an X post on its fact-checking account.
Notably, THE WEEK could not find the Oil Brothers Kraft on any AIS tracking websites.
Besides, the Iranian ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, even confirmed on Friday that Indian-flagged vessels would be allowed to cross the embattled Hormuz Strait without harm.
"Yes, because India is our friend. You will see it within two or three hours. We believe that Iran and India share common interests in the region," Fathali said.
AIS data shows that the attacked bulk carrier 'Mayuree Naree' is among the 22 vessels that the Deendayal Port is expected to handle over the weekend.
— THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) March 13, 2026
(deendayal port 22 vessels dpa, hormuz strait iran us war israel, maritime news cargo record)https://t.co/BGDzajgUhA
"As ambassador in India, I say that the government of India in this situation, after the war, helped us in different fields," he added.
As a result, two Indian-flagged oil tankers—the Shivalik and the Nanda Devi—carrying approximately 92,700 metric tonnes of LPG have safely transited the Hormuz Strait, and are expected to reach India on March 16-17.
This comes after the crude oil tanker Shenlong on Wednesday became one of the first vessels to successfully cross the Hormuz Strait, carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura Port to the Mumbai Port.
