Indian Navy Bolsters Presence in Gulf of Oman Amid Escalating US-Iran Conflict

The Indian Navy has deployed additional warships to the Gulf of Oman and adjacent waters as a precautionary measure to safeguard commercial shipping, particularly fuel and LPG tankers, amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz region following the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

According to multiple reports and official sources, the Navy is positioning over half a dozen vessels, including destroyers, frigates, and support ships, east of the Strait of Hormuz. These warships are tasked with escorting Indian-flagged and India-bound merchant vessels through potentially volatile zones until they reach safer waters in the northern Arabian Sea.

The deployments operate under Operation Sankalp, India’s long-standing mission to protect maritime interests and energy supply lines in the Gulf region.

Recent incidents have underscored the urgency: Indian Navy assets have already successfully escorted key tankers such as the LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi carrying a combined 92,700 metric tonnes of cargo, as well as the crude oil tanker Jag Laadki, after their safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Footage and tracking data confirm active naval involvement, with at least three warships providing close protection in some cases, including joint efforts with friendly nations like Mauritius.

India’s proactive stance comes as disruptions in the Strait, through which a substantial portion of the country’s crude oil and energy imports flow, threaten supply chains and contribute to global energy price volatility. While Iran has reportedly permitted select vessels including those from India, China, and Russia to pass under controlled conditions, broader restrictions and threats against Western-linked shipping have complicated transit.

The additional deployments build on existing mission-based patrols in the wider region, with vessels remaining outside the strait itself to avoid direct escalation. Officials emphasize that the focus remains on protecting national economic and energy security interests without entering contested waters unnecessarily.

This move highlights India’s growing role in ensuring freedom of navigation in critical chokepoints, even as major powers navigate the complex fallout from the broader West Asia conflict.