Message in missile strikes: Why is the US targeting ships with Indian crews in the Persian Gulf?
The attacks, aimed at engine rooms, suggest an intent to disable rather than sink, hinting at a deliberate message
In a series of swift attacks in the Gulf region, three merchant ships with predominantly Indian crews, none flagged in India, were targeted by US Hellfire missiles between June 8 and June 10, with all vessels en route to Iranian ports. The precision targeting of engine rooms suggests an intent to disable rather than sink, signaling a deliberate message, and resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors and three missing, with the Automatic Identification System (AIS) likely having provided attackers with ship details. These strikes appear to be part of a broader US strategy to enforce its blockade on Iranian ports, reduce India's reliance on Persian Gulf oil by promoting US and Venezuelan energy sources, and counter Iran's challenge to the US petrodollar system and its circumvention of sanctions, particularly concerning payments in Chinese yuan. Complicating the situation, US President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the attacks, an accusation Iran vehemently denied, stating the US itself attacked the Indian vessels and killed its sailors, while India has expressed concern over the attacks on commercial shipping.
In a series of swift attacks in the Gulf region, three merchant ships with predominantly Indian crews, none flagged in India, were targeted by US Hellfire missiles between June 8 and June 10, with all vessels en route to Iranian ports. The precision targeting of engine rooms suggests an intent to disable rather than sink, signaling a deliberate message, and resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors and three missing, with the Automatic Identification System (AIS) likely having provided attackers with ship details. These strikes appear to be part of a broader US strategy to enforce its blockade on Iranian ports, reduce India's reliance on Persian Gulf oil by promoting US and Venezuelan energy sources, and counter Iran's challenge to the US petrodollar system and its circumvention of sanctions, particularly concerning payments in Chinese yuan. Complicating the situation, US President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the attacks, an accusation Iran vehemently denied, stating the US itself attacked the Indian vessels and killed its sailors, while India has expressed concern over the attacks on commercial shipping.
In a series of swift attacks in the Gulf region, three merchant ships with predominantly Indian crews, none flagged in India, were targeted by US Hellfire missiles between June 8 and June 10, with all vessels en route to Iranian ports. The precision targeting of engine rooms suggests an intent to disable rather than sink, signaling a deliberate message, and resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors and three missing, with the Automatic Identification System (AIS) likely having provided attackers with ship details. These strikes appear to be part of a broader US strategy to enforce its blockade on Iranian ports, reduce India's reliance on Persian Gulf oil by promoting US and Venezuelan energy sources, and counter Iran's challenge to the US petrodollar system and its circumvention of sanctions, particularly concerning payments in Chinese yuan. Complicating the situation, US President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the attacks, an accusation Iran vehemently denied, stating the US itself attacked the Indian vessels and killed its sailors, while India has expressed concern over the attacks on commercial shipping.
Three ships with mostly Indian crew—none of them India-flagged—have been targeted by the US in the Gulf region in three days. On June 8, it was the MT Marivex, on June 10, it was MT Settebello, and on June 10, the MT Jalveer—all were hit by American Hellfire missiles. All three ships were headed towards Iranian ports.
The fact that the Hellfire missiles—which are not very big missiles—aimed for the engine rooms indicates that the ships were meant to be disabled and not sunk, indicating that there is a message in these attacks.
There were 24 Indian crew members each in the MT Marivex and the MT Settebello, while the MT Jalveer had 20 Indian seafarers onboard. Three Indians lost their lives in the attacks, while three are reported to be missing.
A former top-level officer of the Indian Navy told THE WEEK on condition of anonymity: “There is a very strong possibility that the US knew all details of the ships which it attacked. All merchant ships mandatorily have their automatic identification systems (AIS) turned on, which means all details were available to the attackers on the VHF frequency band.”
Besides implementing the US blockade on Iranian ports effective from April 13, 2026, the aim of the attacks seems to be to wean off Indian dependence on the Persian Gulf for oil requirements.
Along with China, India is among the biggest consumers of Persian Gulf-origin oil. The US seeks to increase India’s dependence on US and Venezuelan energy sources.
Notably, former President Nicolás Maduro Moros was ousted by the US from power in an operation codenamed ‘Absolute Resolve’ on January 3, 2026, and replaced by Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez, who is much more amenable to American needs and requirements.
The US attacks are also primed to erode Iran’s direct challenge to the US petrodollar system in order to undermine US financial hegemony and to skirt around the US-imposed sanctions. Iran seeks payment in Chinese yuan for permission to transit through the Strait of Hormuz and for oil payments.
But what has added another layer of complexity to the developments is President Donald Trump’s assertion, blaming Iran for the attacks on the Indian-crewed ships.
On Friday, Trump posted on Truth Social: “Their (Iran's) totally rebuffed Drone attack last night against Indian Ships leaving the Hormuz Strait is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.”
Iran termed Trump’s assertion as baseless. Reacting to the US President’s post, the Iranian Embassy in India said: “The US president's accusation against Iran regarding an Indian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz is simply baseless... It is an attempt to divert public attention from the brutal fact that the US has attacked 3 Indian vessels in less than a week and killed 3 innocent Indian sailors. That's pathetic!”
On its part, India has described the attacks on commercial vessels as “deeply worrisome”.