A distress audio clip from an Indian‑flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz has surfaced, capturing the confusion and fear aboard the vessel as it came under fire from Iranian gunboats. The 30‑second recording, shared by maritime‑intelligence firm Tanker Trackers, features a crew member from the crude‑oil tanker Sanmar Herald urgently trying to communicate with the Iranian navy just as warning shots are reported to have been fired. The tanker, along with another Indian‑flagged ship, Jag Arnav, turned back from the Strait after the incident, underscoring how volatile and unpredictable the passage has become in the midst of the US‑Iran‑Israel conflict.
In the audio, a voice can be heard saying: “Sepah Navy. Sepah Navy. This is motor tanker Sanmar Herald. You gave me clearance to go. My name is second on your list. You are firing now. Let me turn back.” Sources connected with the recording say the crew believed they had received permission to transit the Strait, but were suddenly confronted by Iranian patrol boats using fire to push them back toward the western side of the waterway. No injuries were reported and the vessels were not seriously damaged, according to Indian and international maritime‑safety sources.
The firing prompted India’s Ministry of External Affairs to summon the Iranian ambassador in New Delhi and convey “deep concern” over the targeting of merchant vessels. The Foreign Secretary reiterated that Iran had earlier facilitated the safe passage of several India‑bound ships through the Strait and urged Tehran to resume providing India‑linked tankers with clear, consistent safe‑conduit arrangements. The incident has further intensified confusion over access rules in the Strait, as Iran oscillates between partial openings and full re‑imposition of strict control following the breakdown of a US‑linked ceasefire‑related framework.