Iran, Israel Tensions Spill Into BRICS Meet as India Condemns Ship Attack

Iran accused the US and Israel of “warmongering” at the BRICS meeting in New Delhi, while India condemned the attack on Indian cargo vessel Haji Ali near Oman. The incident has intensified concerns over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating West Asia tensions.

Araghchi Targets US, Israel

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi launched a sharp attack on the United States and Israel during the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, accusing both countries of pursuing “illegal expansionism and warmongering” in West Asia.

Addressing delegates at the high-level gathering, Araghchi said continued instability in the Middle East would ultimately hurt every country involved, “including the aggressors”. He urged BRICS nations to collectively condemn what he described as unlawful actions by Washington and Tel Aviv.

The Iranian minister also linked the current conflict to a broader struggle against Western dominance, arguing that BRICS represented an emerging global order led increasingly by countries from the Global South.

Indian Ship Incident

The diplomatic remarks came hours after an Indian-flagged cargo vessel, MSV Haji Ali, reportedly sank off the Oman coast following a suspected drone or missile strike near the Strait of Hormuz.

According to maritime security firm Vanguard, the vessel caught fire after an explosion south of the strategic waterway near Limah, Oman. The ship was carrying livestock from Berbera in Somaliland to Sharjah in the UAE.

Initial reports indicate the 54-metre wooden dhow began taking on water after the blast, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel before it eventually sank.

All 14 crew members onboard were rescued safely by Omani authorities.

India Calls Attack ‘Unacceptable’

India reacted strongly to the incident, with Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemning attacks on commercial shipping and civilian sailors.

“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable,” Jaiswal said during a media briefing in New Delhi.

He confirmed that all Indian nationals onboard were safe and thanked Oman for carrying out rescue operations swiftly.

India also reiterated its long-standing position that freedom of navigation and global trade routes must not be disrupted despite rising regional tensions.

The development has added to growing concerns around maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest energy transit corridors linking the Persian Gulf to international markets.

Hormuz Tensions Deepen

Iran, meanwhile, announced new transit protocols for commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran said vessels would need to cooperate with Iranian naval authorities and provide cargo and route information in advance.

Araghchi maintained that Iran had not blocked maritime movement and blamed the United States for creating instability through what he called an “illegal blockade” on Iranian ports.

Iranian media also reported that nearly 30 vessels had crossed the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian authorisation since Wednesday evening, including Chinese ships operating under newly introduced “management protocols”.

The situation in the Gulf has become increasingly tense over the past several days, with reports of ship seizures, drone attacks and military deployments near key shipping lanes.

UAE-Iran Rift Emerges

Fresh tensions also surfaced between Iran and the United Arab Emirates during the BRICS discussions.

Iran accused the UAE of indirectly assisting attacks against Tehran by allegedly allowing its territory to be used during military operations. Abu Dhabi has denied the allegations.

The diplomatic disagreement reportedly created uncertainty over whether BRICS foreign ministers would be able to issue a joint communique from the New Delhi meeting.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said there were “problems and communications” related to the UAE’s participation in the summit.

Regional Fallout Growing

The developments come against the backdrop of intensifying military exchanges across the region, including Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon and drone incidents near the Israel-Lebanon border.

Global markets and shipping operators are closely monitoring the Strait of Hormuz situation, especially after reports of rising insurance costs and disruptions to cargo movement in the Gulf region.

For India, which relies heavily on energy imports passing through Hormuz, any prolonged instability could directly affect trade flows, fuel prices and maritime logistics in the coming weeks.