"We Did Iwo Jima" — Senator Lindsey Graham's Kharg Island Invasion Call Explained: History, Stakes, and the Backlash That Followed

When a sitting US Senator invokes the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history to argue for a ground invasion in the Persian Gulf — and faces furious pushback from his own party — the world needs to pay close attention.

On Sunday, March 22, 2026, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina appeared on Fox News Sunday and made a statement that instantly ignited a firestorm across American politics. Calling on President Donald Trump to order US Marines to seize Kharg Island — Iran's primary oil export hub — Graham declared: "We did Iwo Jima. We can do this." The remark, delivered in the fourth week of America's ongoing military operation against Iran — dubbed Operation Epic Fury — drew immediate and fierce condemnation from both sides of the political aisle, veterans, military analysts, and even Graham's fellow Republicans. For a world already watching the US-Iran conflict with alarm, the statement raised the stakes sharply — and opened a window into the bitter internal debate now consuming Washington about how far this war should go.

What Is Kharg Island — and Why Does It Matter?

To understand why Graham's proposal is so consequential, it is essential to first understand what Kharg Island is and why it sits at the centre of America's strategic calculus in the current conflict.

Kharg Island is a small coral outcrop located approximately 16 to 20 miles off Iran's southern coast in the Persian Gulf. It is only about five miles long and three miles wide. But its geographic and economic significance is immense. The island processes and exports approximately 90% of Iran's crude oil — with deep surrounding waters that allow supertankers to dock directly, a natural advantage that most of Iran's shallow coastline cannot offer.

If the United States were to seize or effectively blockade Kharg Island, Iran's primary source of oil revenue would be severed. Graham's strategic logic is blunt: cut off the money, and the Iranian regime — already weakened by the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28 — dies on a vine. The Trump administration has reportedly been actively considering plans to blockade or occupy the island as leverage to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, whose disruption has caused a global energy crisis now affecting countries from India to Germany.

US forces have already struck Kharg Island's military installations. On March 13, President Trump announced that American forces had hit military targets on the island in what he called one of the most powerful bombing raids in Middle East history — though Iran's oil infrastructure on the island was deliberately left intact at that stage.

What Graham Said — The Full Context

Appearing on Fox News Sunday with host Shannon Bream, Graham was asked about the ongoing conflict and whether US ground troops should be deployed as part of any operation on Kharg Island. His answer was unequivocal.

"Here's what I tell President Trump: Keep it up for a few more weeks, take Kharg Island where all of the resources they have to produce oil, control that island, let this regime die on a vine," Graham said. When Bream raised a detailed analysis from The Atlantic warning that any American forces landing on the island would face ballistic missile strikes, drone attacks, petrochemical smoke, and unreliable logistical support, Graham was dismissive. "I'm sort of tired of all this armchair quarterbacking. I trust the Marines, not that guy," he responded. "We got two Marine Expeditionary Units sailing to this island. We did Iwo Jima. We can do this. My money is always on the Marines."

The Battle of Iwo Jima: What Graham Was Referencing

The Battle of Iwo Jima is one of the most iconic and devastating engagements in American military history. Fought from February 19 to March 26, 1945, the 36-day campaign pitted approximately 70,000 American Marines, soldiers, and sailors against roughly 20,000 deeply entrenched Japanese troops defending the volcanic island roughly 700 miles south of Tokyo.

The cost was staggering. American forces suffered more than 26,000 casualties during the campaign — including nearly 7,000 killed. The Japanese defenders had constructed an elaborate network of underground tunnels and fortified bunkers. Of the approximately 20,000 Japanese troops who defended the island, fewer than 1,100 survived. The battle is remembered not only for its ferocity but for the iconic photograph of US Marines raising the flag on Mount Suribachi — an image that became one of the defining symbols of American military sacrifice in World War II.

It is, by any measure, a reference point for extraordinary loss — not military ease.

The Backlash: Republicans Against Graham

What made Graham's statement politically explosive was not just the historical reference — it was the speed and ferocity with which members of his own Republican party turned on him.

Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, an Air Force veteran, was among the first to respond. She said she was deeply upset at what she described as Graham's lack of respect for life, calling his statement unacceptable and dark — noting that there were over 26,000 American casualties at Iwo Jima and that treating troops as expendable was deeply troubling.

Republican Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina — Graham's home state — went further. She accused Graham of having one foreign policy throughout his career: sending someone else's children to war. She argued he was wrong about Iraq, wrong about Afghanistan, and is now wrong about Iran.

Former Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene called Graham a psychotic neocon willing to send US Marines to be slaughtered in Iran rather than focusing on domestic priorities, and called on South Carolina voters to remove him from office.

Paul Dans, the Project 2025 architect challenging Graham in the Republican primary, called the senator drunk on war and power.

Conservative commentator Jack Posobiec noted the brutal casualty statistics of Iwo Jima — a 40% overall casualty rate, with some units exceeding 80%.

Democratic and Military Voices Push Back

Democratic voices were equally pointed. Colorado Representative Jason Crow — an Army Ranger and veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan — offered a sharp historical correction. Nearly 7,000 Americans who died and 19,000 who were wounded did Iwo Jima, Crow stated. They did it to fight for freedom with the support of Congress and the American people — not at the casual urging of a Senator on a Sunday morning television programme.

From the military analysis community, the warnings were equally grave. Former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent described deploying US troops on Kharg Island as a potential disaster. The Atlantic's analysis — which Graham had dismissed — laid out the specific vulnerabilities in detail: ballistic missile exposure, drone saturation, petrochemical smoke from the island's oil infrastructure, and severe logistical limitations for any occupying force.

A Trump aide, speaking to Axios, acknowledged that a Kharg Island operation remains on the table if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened — but stressed that the decision has not yet been made.

The Military Reality: Two MEUs Already Deployed

Beneath the political theatre lies a genuinely alarming operational reality. As Graham spoke, two US Marine Expeditionary Units were already en route to the Middle East. The 11th MEU, comprising approximately 2,500 Marines, is embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer and its Amphibious Ready Group. The 31st MEU, with roughly 2,200 Marines, is aboard USS Tripoli — the US Navy's newest amphibious assault ship.

Combined, approximately 5,000 Marines are currently sailing toward the region. US forces have already suffered 13 service members killed and around 200 wounded since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28. The question of whether these Marines will be ordered to attempt a ground seizure or naval blockade of Kharg Island is no longer hypothetical. It is the central strategic decision now facing the Trump administration.

Critically, Graham himself has publicly admitted that the United States currently has no plan for what happens in Iran after the regime falls — an admission that, given the lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan, carries profound weight.

What This Means for India and the World

For India — which imports roughly 85% of its crude oil and relies heavily on Gulf supply routes — the prospect of a ground invasion of Kharg Island represents the most dangerous escalation scenario possible. Prime Minister Modi's warning to the Rajya Sabha on March 24 that the conflict's impact may be long-lasting takes on new urgency in this context.

A physical US military operation on Kharg Island would likely trigger Iranian retaliatory strikes on neighbouring Gulf oil infrastructure, further disrupting the Strait of Hormuz and potentially pushing global crude prices well beyond $150 per barrel. For India's 1 crore diaspora in the Gulf, for its energy security, and for its broader economic stability, the difference between a negotiated resolution and a Kharg Island ground invasion is enormous.

Words Have Consequences — Especially These Ones

Senator Lindsey Graham's invocation of Iwo Jima was not a gaffe. It was a deliberate, public, nationally broadcast argument for a ground military operation in a live war zone — made by a senator with direct access to the White House and a history of shaping US foreign policy decisions.

The pushback from his own party, from veterans, from military analysts, and from across the political spectrum is not simply political theatre. It reflects a genuine and widespread alarm at the casual manner in which the prospect of mass American casualties is being discussed in the context of a conflict whose strategic endgame remains undefined.

Iwo Jima was won. It cost nearly 7,000 American lives and over 19,000 wounded. It was fought to defeat Imperial Japan in a world war with existential stakes. Before America considers whether it can do this again — it must honestly answer what it is fighting for, what happens the morning after, and whether a senator's television confidence is a sufficient substitute for a strategy.

Bottom Line: The Lindsey Graham Kharg Island Iwo Jima statement of March 2026 is one of the most consequential and contested remarks made by a US Senator in the current conflict. It deserves to be taken seriously — and seriously scrutinised.

PM Modi Warns of Long-Lasting Impact of US-Iran War in Rajya Sabha — India's Energy, Trade and Diplomacy on the Line

For the first time since the West Asia war erupted, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood before both Houses of Parliament to deliver a sobering message: brace yourselves — the worst may not be over yet.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha on March 24, 2026 — 25 days into the conflict that began when the US and Israel launched a joint operation against Iran on February 28, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued one of his most cautionary statements in recent political memory. The war in West Asia, he told the Upper House, has created a serious global energy crisis. For India, the challenges are economic, security-related, and humanitarian. And critically, their impact may be long-lasting.

It was a rare moment of unvarnished realism from the Prime Minister — and one the country needed to hear.

What Modi Said — And Why It Matters

Speaking a day after addressing the Lok Sabha on the same subject, PM Modi expanded India's official position in the Rajya Sabha with greater detail and urgency. Key statements from his address include:

• The war has been ongoing for more than three weeks and has already created serious disruptions for the entire world.
• India's routine supply of petrol, diesel, cooking gas, and fertilisers has been affected.
• The Strait of Hormuz — a critical maritime chokepoint through which nearly one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes — has seen severely disrupted shipping movement.
• Indian crew members remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz region.
• Over 3,75,000 Indians have returned safely to India from West Asian nations since the conflict began, including nearly 1,000 from Iran — of whom over 700 are medical students.
• India is in active diplomatic communication with the governments of Iran, Israel, the United States, and all Gulf nations.
• India has called the closure of the Strait of Hormuz "unacceptable" and demanded its reopening.
• The government has diversified crude oil imports from 27 to 41 countries to reduce dependence on any single supply corridor.
• Strategic petroleum reserves have been bolstered, and coal stocks at power plants remain adequate to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply.
• India imports approximately 60% of its LPG requirements — the government has increased domestic production and is prioritising supply to household consumers.

The Prime Minister drew an explicit parallel with the COVID-19 pandemic, urging citizens to respond with the same patience, restraint, and collective calm that saw India through that crisis.

The Strait of Hormuz: India's Most Critical Vulnerability

At the heart of India's exposure to the West Asia war lies one narrow waterway — the Strait of Hormuz. Approximately 20% of the world's oil supply passes through this 33-kilometre-wide passage between Iran and Oman. India, which imports around 85% of its crude oil needs, relies heavily on this route for supplies from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, and Kuwait.

Iran's retaliatory attacks on oil-exporting neighbours and its effective disruption of maritime traffic through the Strait have introduced an energy shock of a scale India has not faced since the Gulf War of 1990-91. The cascading impact on petrol and diesel prices, LPG availability, fertiliser supply chains, and ultimately food inflation is already being felt — and PM Modi's warning that these effects may be long-lasting is not political rhetoric. It is an honest assessment of structural supply chain vulnerability.

The government's response — diversifying import sources, maintaining strategic reserves, increasing domestic LPG production, and forming a daily inter-ministerial monitoring group — reflects sound crisis management. But the Opposition is not entirely wrong to note that some of these measures should have been activated sooner.

The Diplomatic Tightrope India Must Walk

India's foreign policy position on the West Asia conflict is one of the most delicate in its recent diplomatic history. New Delhi has deep, multidimensional relationships with all the primary parties:

• Iran: A historic civilisational partnership, shared interest in Chabahar Port and Central Asian connectivity, and a large Indian community.
• United States: India's most consequential strategic partner, primary defence technology supplier, and anchor of the Quad alliance.
• Israel: A major defence equipment supplier and technology partner, with bilateral ties that have grown significantly over the past decade.
• Gulf States: Home to nearly one crore Indians, the source of billions in annual remittances, and a primary energy supplier.

Navigating this web of relationships while avoiding explicit alignment with any party is extraordinarily difficult. PM Modi's statements — calling for dialogue, opposing attacks on civilians and energy infrastructure, urging de-escalation, and reiterating India's commitment to peace — represent a carefully calibrated neutral position. But neutrality in this conflict comes with its own political costs domestically, as Opposition voices have pointed out.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh and other Opposition leaders have criticised the government for not explicitly condemning the US-Israel strikes on Iran, raising questions about India's perceived impartiality. Samajwadi Party's Ramgopal Yadav urged PM Modi to leverage his personal rapport with leaders of all three parties to broker de-escalation. These are not unreasonable asks from a country that has historically championed non-alignment and dialogue.

Opposition Criticism: Delayed Response or Deliberate Diplomacy?

The most pointed Opposition criticism centres not on what PM Modi said — but on when he said it. Congress MP Priyanka Chaturvedi noted that the Prime Minister was addressing Parliament only in the third week of the crisis, arguing that an earlier national address would have prevented misinformation, managed public anxiety over LPG shortages, and clarified India's diplomatic stance on the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader.

The government's decision to send PM Modi to Israel during an active conflict — a visit that drew significant attention — has also raised questions about India's perceived proximity to the US-Israel position. The three-day delay in conveying official condolences on the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was highlighted as a diplomatic misstep by multiple Opposition members.

These critiques reflect a genuine public debate about whether India's crisis communication matched the gravity of a conflict affecting one crore of its citizens abroad and the energy security of 1.4 billion at home.

What Happens Next: Three Scenarios for India

As PM Modi concluded his Rajya Sabha address, the geopolitical landscape shifted slightly — US President Donald Trump announced a five-day extension to his deadline on striking Iranian energy infrastructure, citing "very good and productive" negotiations. Iran's new leadership, led by Mojtaba Khamenei, has indicated openness to dialogue. These are fragile green shoots of de-escalation — but the situation remains deeply volatile.

For India, three scenarios define the road ahead:

Scenario 1 — Diplomatic resolution within weeks: If US-Iran negotiations succeed, the Strait of Hormuz reopens, and supply chains gradually normalise. India's energy security stabilises, LPG prices ease, and the economic damage — while real — remains manageable.

Scenario 2 — Prolonged conflict with partial disruption: The war continues at reduced intensity, with sporadic Strait disruptions. India's diversified import strategy holds, but fuel prices remain elevated and inflation stays above comfort levels through the kharif season.

Scenario 3 — Escalation and full Strait closure: Iranian strikes intensify, the Strait remains shut for an extended period, and global oil prices spike above $150 per barrel. India's strategic reserves provide a buffer of approximately 75 days — but beyond that, the economic consequences would be severe.

PM Modi's COVID-19 parallel was deliberate. It was a signal to both Parliament and the public: prepare for the longer arc, not just the immediate crisis.

Conclusion: Honest Leadership in Uncertain Times

PM Modi's Rajya Sabha address on the West Asia conflict will not satisfy everyone. The Opposition wants sharper condemnation of aggression. Citizens want firmer assurances on LPG and fuel prices. Diplomats want clearer strategic signals. These are all legitimate expectations.

But what PM Modi's address did deliver — bluntly and without false comfort — is the message that the PM Modi West Asia conflict warning of 2026 deserves to be taken seriously. The impact may be long-lasting. India must be prepared. And unity — not political point-scoring — is what this moment demands.

Whether Parliament rises to that standard in the days ahead will say as much about India's democratic maturity as it does about its foreign policy.

The Iran-Israel-US war entered its 16th day on Sunday, March 15, with the conflict escalating sharply on multiple fronts simultaneously — US forces striking Iran's most critical oil export hub at Kharg Island, Iran's new Supreme Leader issuing his first public statement vowing to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, global oil prices surging past $100 a barrel, and the United Nations confirming that 3.2 million Iranians have been displaced since the war began on February 28.

US Strikes Kharg Island — Iran's Oil Crown Jewel

The single biggest military development of the past 48 hours was a large-scale US precision strike on Kharg Island — a five-kilometre stretch of land off Iran's northern Gulf coast that handles approximately 90 percent of the country's crude oil exports. President Trump announced the strikes on Friday night, declaring that American forces had "totally obliterated every military target" on the island.

Crucially, Trump stated that he had deliberately chosen not to destroy the island's oil infrastructure — but issued a direct threat that he would "immediately reconsider this decision" if Iran continued interfering with the free passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's parliament speaker had earlier warned the US would face consequences if it attacked any Iranian Gulf islands. A regional Iranian official said oil export operations from Kharg Island were "continuing as normal" after the strikes, with no casualties reported among island residents.

New Supreme Leader: Hormuz Stays Closed

In his first public statement since being named Iran's Supreme Leader following his father's assassination on February 28, Mojtaba Khamenei broke his silence through a message read by a presenter on Iranian state television. He vowed that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed and that Iran would continue its attacks on Gulf neighbours for as long as US and Israeli strikes on Iran continue.

The statement was described by analysts as firmly non-conciliatory and a direct rejection of international pressure to reopen the waterway. Khamenei has not appeared on camera at any point since assuming power — a fact that has fuelled persistent rumours about his health. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed the new Supreme Leader was "wounded and likely disfigured." Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pushed back sharply, saying there was "no problem" with the new Supreme Leader and that "he will continue performing his duties according to the Constitution."

Trump Rejects Deal, Asks World to Send Warships

Speaking in a television interview on Saturday evening, Trump confirmed that Iran had put forward terms for a ceasefire deal. He rejected the offer, stating the terms were "not good enough yet" and declining to specify what he would accept. He also raised fresh doubts about whether Mojtaba Khamenei was even alive, pointing to his complete absence from any camera footage since becoming Supreme Leader.

Trump separately called on the world's major economies — specifically naming the United Kingdom, China, France, Japan, and South Korea — to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to help keep the critical shipping lane open. Neither the UK nor China confirmed they were doing so. Trump also said US Navy escorts for oil tankers through the strait would happen "soon" and that he was "thinking about taking over" the strait entirely.

Oil Crosses $100, Global Markets Rocked

The Strait of Hormuz — through which approximately 20 percent of the world's daily oil supply normally travels — has been effectively closed to international shipping since the war began. The closure, combined with attacks on energy infrastructure across the Gulf, sent global oil prices surging past $100 a barrel during trading, reaching levels not seen since 2022. Prices briefly touched $120 before pulling back sharply in a single trading session — one of the most volatile days in energy markets in years.

Iran's Foreign Minister stated that the Strait was not fully closed — but only to ships with ties to the United States and Israel. He confirmed that 22 Indian-flagged vessels carrying liquefied gas were sailing through the strait, with two having crossed through safely. Two Indian government vessels were also confirmed to have crossed the Strait of Hormuz safely and were en route back to India.

Iran also signalled it was considering allowing a limited number of oil tankers through the strait — but only if the cargo was traded in Chinese yuan rather than US dollars, a significant geopolitical condition that reflects the broader economic battle being waged alongside the military one.

3.2 Million Iranians Displaced, 2,000+ Killed

The United Nations refugee agency confirmed that up to 3.2 million Iranians have been displaced since the war began — between 600,000 and one million households forced to flee their homes, primarily from Tehran and other urban centres, relocating to northern and rural areas of the country. The displacement has also severely impacted existing refugee communities inside Iran, particularly Afghan refugees already living in precarious conditions.

Iran's Red Crescent Society reported that more than 1,200 Iranians have been killed in US and Israeli strikes. Total casualties across Iran and Lebanon since the war began have exceeded 2,000. At least 826 people have been killed in Lebanon — including 106 children — as Israel simultaneously intensified its campaign against Hezbollah. Thirteen US service members have also been killed, with two additional deaths from non-combat causes.

Iran Threatens American Companies Across the Region

Following the Kharg Island strikes, Iran's Foreign Minister warned that Tehran would now consider all American-linked energy infrastructure across the region as legitimate targets. "Iran will attack any energy infrastructure in the region which belongs to an American company or in which an American company is a shareholder," he stated — a significant escalation of Iran's declared rules of engagement that sent fresh anxiety through Gulf energy markets.

The IRGC separately issued a warning urging civilians to evacuate areas near facilities in which Americans hold shareholding interests across the region.

F1 Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix Cancelled

The war's ripple effects reached global sport on Saturday, when Formula One officials announced the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix races that had been scheduled for April. Both events were called off due to the ongoing conflict and security situation across the Gulf region — marking the first time in the modern era that an active global conflict has directly forced the cancellation of Formula One races.

Kuwait International Airport also suffered damage from strikes, and Air India cancelled the majority of its Delhi-Dubai flights following UAE airspace restrictions.

Russia-US Energy Talks, EU Warning

The Kremlin confirmed that discussions were underway between Moscow and Washington about cooperating to stabilise global energy markets disrupted by the war and the Hormuz closure. However, a Kremlin spokesperson said it was "too early to speak about any effective cooperation."

European Union President Antonio Costa declared during a speech to EU ambassadors in Brussels that Russia was the only winner of the ongoing war — gaining higher energy revenues, profiting from diverted Western military resources, and benefiting from reduced global attention on the war in Ukraine.

The Iran-Israel-US war that erupted on February 28, 2026 showed no signs of slowing on Sunday, March 15, as Iran's Revolutionary Guards issued a direct death threat against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, explosions rocked the Bahraini capital of Manama, and US President Donald Trump declared he was not ready to accept any deal with Iran — saying the terms were not good enough yet.

Revolutionary Guards Vow to 'Pursue and Kill' Netanyahu

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a stark public threat on Sunday through their official website Sepah News, directly targeting the Israeli Prime Minister. "If this child-killing criminal is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force," the statement declared.

The threat came amid swirling social media claims that Netanyahu had already been killed in an Iranian strike. The office of the Israeli Prime Minister moved quickly to shut down those claims, stating clearly that the reports were fake news and that the Prime Minister was alive and well.

Netanyahu: 'Iran Is No Longer the Same Iran'

At his first press conference since the war began, held on March 12 via video link due to security concerns, Netanyahu declared that nearly two weeks of joint US-Israeli bombardment had fundamentally changed Iran. He claimed the strikes had killed senior nuclear scientists, inflicted severe damage on the Revolutionary Guards and Basij forces, and disrupted Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

"Iran is no longer the same Iran," Netanyahu said, adding that the attacks had prevented Tehran from moving its nuclear projects deeper underground. He also issued a barely veiled threat against Iran's newly appointed supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei — who has not appeared in public since being named successor to the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — saying he would not take out a life insurance policy on any leader of what he called terror organisations. He dismissed the younger Khamenei as a puppet of the Revolutionary Guards who could not show his face in public.

Netanyahu stated that the aim of the war was to create conditions for the Iranian people to rise up and overthrow the regime from within — though he admitted he could not be certain that would happen. "You can lead someone to water; you cannot make him drink," he said.

Trump Rejects Deal, Questions Iran's Leadership

Speaking in a television interview on Saturday, US President Donald Trump confirmed that Iran had shown willingness to negotiate a deal to end the war, but said he was not ready to accept it. "The terms aren't good enough yet," Trump said, declining to elaborate on what terms would be acceptable.

Trump also questioned whether Iran's newly appointed supreme leader was still alive, reflecting uncertainty within Washington about the leadership situation inside Tehran. He further raised doubts about whether Iran had dropped naval mines into the Strait of Hormuz — the critical waterway through which a significant portion of global energy supplies pass — though he vowed to open the strait one way or another.

Explosions in Bahrain, Oil Terminal Fire at Fujairah

The war's impact continued to spread across the Gulf region on Sunday. Two explosions were heard over the capital of Bahrain, Manama, in the early hours of the morning as Iran continued its strikes against targets across the region.

In the UAE, oil loading operations at the Fujairah emirate — a major crude export hub handling approximately one million barrels per day — resumed after being halted following a drone attack and fire the previous day. Fujairah sits outside the Strait of Hormuz and its disruption had added to global energy market anxiety.

Russia Supplying Drones to Iran Against US and Israel

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed in a television interview on Saturday that Russia is supplying Iran with Shahed drones being used against American and Israeli forces. "It is 100 percent facts," Zelensky said, adding that the drones Iran is using against US bases are Russian-manufactured versions of the original Shahed design. Russia has used thousands of similar drones against Ukraine since 2022.

US Military Casualties Rising

The human cost of the war for American forces has been growing steadily. A US Air Force KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, killing six crew members. The Pentagon confirmed the crash was not caused by hostile fire. The six killed were identified as John Klinner, Ariana Savino, Ashley Pruitt, Seth Koval, Curtis Angst, and Tyler Simmons. The crash brought the total number of US military personnel killed in operations against Iran to at least 13 since the war began.

The US State Department has also ordered all non-emergency government employees and their family members to leave Oman, citing growing safety risks as the conflict continues to expand across the region.

It Loaded Oil in Saudi Arabia, Vanished off Every Tracking Screen, and Docked in Mumbai. Here Is the Full Story.

On the morning of March 12, 2026, a Liberia-flagged oil tanker named Shenlong quietly berthed at Jawahar Dweep, Mumbai's dedicated crude oil terminal, and began discharging its cargo — 1,35,335 metric tonnes of Saudi Arabian crude oil destined for refineries in Mahul, eastern Mumbai.

It was the first tanker headed to India to successfully navigate the Strait of Hormuz since the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran on February 28. But the Shenlong's voyage was not a routine delivery. It was a calculated gamble through the most dangerous stretch of water on earth — and for a critical portion of that journey, the ship simply disappeared.

How the Voyage Unfolded: From Ras Tanura to Mumbai

The tanker loaded crude oil from Ras Tanura Port in Saudi Arabia on March 1 and departed two days later. Maritime tracking data from Lloyd's List Intelligence and TankerTrackers indicated that the vessel was last recorded inside the Strait of Hormuz on March 8. Windward

Then it vanished.

As the vessel approached the most sensitive section of the strait, its tracking signals disappeared temporarily. Experts believe the tanker switched off its AIS — Automatic Identification System — transponders to avoid detection while crossing the dangerous stretch. Shipping companies sometimes use this tactic during conflicts to reduce the risk of being targeted or tracked by hostile forces. After successfully passing through the high-risk area, the vessel reappeared on maritime tracking systems on March 9 as it continued its journey toward India. Wionews

The tanker later reached Mumbai at around 1 PM on March 12 and was berthed at Jawahar Dweep at approximately 6:06 PM. Deputy Conservator Praveen Singh confirmed that the vessel is carrying 1,35,335 metric tonnes of crude oil, which is currently being discharged and will be transported to refineries in Mahul in eastern Mumbai. Windward

What "Going Dark" Actually Means — and Why Ships Do It

To understand the significance of this voyage, you need to understand what AIS is, why it exists, and why switching it off is both technically simple and legally complicated.

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea — signed by 167 countries — requires almost every commercial vessel to carry a radio transponder that broadcasts the ship's identity, position, speed and heading to port authorities, coast guards and commercial tracking networks. That international agreement requires ships to leave the transponders on and active. But there is no physical mechanism preventing a crew from switching it off or broadcasting a false position. When a vessel turns off its transponder and goes dark, it doesn't trigger an alarm at some global maritime headquarters. There is no such headquarters. The ship simply disappears from the map. Every map. The Washington Post

In peacetime, going dark is a red flag associated with sanctions evasion, smuggling, and illegal cargo. In a war zone, it is a survival strategy — if a hostile navy or drone operator cannot see you on a tracking screen, your chances of being targeted fall dramatically.

Evidence suggests the vessel loaded approximately one million barrels of crude oil at Saudi Arabia's Juaymah Terminal before switching off its AIS signal around March 4 and remaining dark for approximately five days before reappearing around 07:00 UTC on March 9. The manoeuvre suggests that a small number of operators are attempting to exploit extremely high freight premiums by conducting dark passages through the Strait, minimising visibility during the highest-risk segment of the voyage. Bloomberg

What Was Happening in the Strait While the Shenlong Was in It

The Hormuz that the Shenlong navigated between March 4 and March 8 was not a normal waterway. It was, in effect, an active combat zone.

Just after midnight on March 2, no tankers in the strait broadcast AIS signals at all, indicating near-zero traffic. Protection and indemnity insurance was removed for March 5, making the economic risk too high for most ship owners to use the strait. By March 4, the IRGC claimed complete control of the strait, and at least eight vessels had been damaged by that point. Military.com

On March 4 alone, only five vessel crossings were recorded across the entire strait. GPS jamming affected more than 1,650 ships in the Middle East Gulf on March 7 — a 55% increase from the previous week — erroneously placing vessels across land and sea in Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE. Wikipedia

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei warned publicly that all tankers and maritime navigation must be "very careful" as long as the situation remains insecure. Al Jazeera The US Energy Secretary briefly and incorrectly claimed the US Navy had escorted a tanker through — a claim that was rapidly corrected, underlining the fog of war surrounding every transit.

The Dark Fleet: A Global System That Predates This Crisis

The Shenlong's dark transit did not invent a new tactic. It used one that is now a well-established feature of global energy trade — the so-called "shadow" or "dark fleet."

According to maritime intelligence firm Windward, approximately 1,100 dark fleet vessels have been identified globally, representing roughly 17% to 18% of all tankers carrying liquid cargo. The dark fleet did not emerge because the maritime system is broken — it emerged because the system is built on voluntary participation. The Washington Post

Iran began using dark fleet tactics in 2018 after sanctions were reimposed. Russia dramatically expanded the system in 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine. Now, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed to conventional maritime trade, the only vessels still moving with regularity are the ones operating outside the rules. Zee News

Windward detected a more than 200% increase in dark vessel activity during the first night of the Iran-US escalation alone — the immediate, system-wide response of the global shipping industry to the new threat environment. NPR

India's Larger Shipping Crisis: 28 Ships Still Stranded

The Shenlong's successful arrival is a relief — but it should not obscure the scale of what India still faces.

Several Indian vessels remain near the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Directorate General of Shipping, 28 Indian-flagged ships were operating in or near the region when the conflict began. At least seven vessels — including Desh Mahima, Desh Abhiman, Swarna Kamal, Vishva Prerna, Jag Viraat, Jag Lokesh, and LNGC Aseem — have since moved to safer waters in the Arabian Sea. Another ship, Jag Lakshya, has reportedly headed toward Angola. Windward

Shipping authorities say there are currently no formal restrictions preventing Indian ships from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, but vessel operators are advised to carefully assess security risks and maintain situational awareness. Windward That careful language masks a brutal reality: in a strait where naval mines are now reportedly being planted and IRGC drones are active, "carefully assess" means "decide if your crew's lives and your cargo are worth the freight premium."

The Rerouting Problem: Why Cape of Good Hope Is Not a Simple Fix

With Hormuz effectively closed to most traffic, the global shipping industry is rerouting — but the alternatives are expensive, slow, and increasingly under strain.

Regional shipping activity is redistributing across alternative routes, with Cape of Good Hope transits surging sharply, reflecting a growing shift toward long-haul rerouting around the Middle East and Red Sea risk environment. Bloomberg

Oman's deep-water ports of Duqm, Salalah and Sohar in the Arabian Sea, which could allow tankers to bypass the strait, are no longer fully safe either — in March 2026 several drones struck Duqm and Salalah, with at least one fuel storage tank in Duqm damaged. The Joint War Committee of the London insurance market subsequently included waters around Oman in its list of high-risk maritime areas. Military.com

The Cape of Good Hope route adds approximately 6,000 nautical miles — and 10 to 15 extra days of sailing — to a typical Gulf-to-India oil shipment. In volume terms, it works. In cost terms, it is devastating: freight rates have already surged, war-risk insurance premiums have multiplied, and every extra day at sea is fuel, crew wages, and depreciation.

The Bottom Line

The Shenlong's voyage tells you everything you need to know about India's energy situation right now. A ship loaded Saudi oil, switched off every tracking system it carried, sailed blind through a war zone for five days, emerged safely, and docked in Mumbai. The crew took that risk — presumably for significantly elevated freight premium — so that India's refineries could keep running.

Roughly 30% of the world's seaborne crude oil transits the Strait of Hormuz. In addition, nearly 20% of global jet fuel and about 16% of gasoline and naphtha flows also pass through the strait. NBC News India, which imports more than half its crude through this corridor, cannot simply reroute its energy supply overnight.

The Shenlong made it. The next tanker's crew will have to make the same calculation. And the one after that. Until the war ends, or until India builds the strategic reserves and alternative supply chains that this crisis has made urgently, undeniably necessary — going dark in the Strait of Hormuz may be the best option India's oil supply chain has.

That is not a comfortable conclusion. It is the honest one.