India’s government summoned the American ambassador Thursday and demanded a full explanation after three Indian sailors were killed when an oil tanker was struck near the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Iran military exchange, marking the most significant diplomatic friction between New Delhi and Washington over the conflict so far.

Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar told parliament Thursday that India had made its position absolutely clear to the United States and that the deaths of Indian nationals in international waters during a military operation was completely unacceptable. He said India expected a prompt and thorough accounting of the circumstances from the American side.

The summoning of an ambassador is a formal diplomatic step that signals serious displeasure, though it stops short of more severe measures such as recalling India’s own ambassador or imposing retaliatory restrictions. Indian officials said the step was taken to underline that New Delhi would not remain silent when Indian lives are lost in a conflict where India is a non-party.

The White House said it had received the communication from New Delhi and was taking it seriously. A National Security Council spokesperson said the US was conducting a review of all incidents during the military operation and would provide relevant findings to allies and partner nations. No timeline was given.

India occupies a particularly delicate position in the US-Iran conflict. New Delhi has strategic partnerships with Washington through the Quad and multiple bilateral defence agreements, but it also maintains a significant energy trade relationship with Tehran and has historically opposed US unilateral military action in the Middle East.

The tanker in question has not been formally identified by the Indian government, which cited a request from the shipping company to withhold details pending notification of families. The three sailors were crew members on a vessel operating normal commercial routes through the Hormuz area at the time of the strike.

India has around 200,000 nationals working aboard commercial shipping vessels globally, with a large proportion serving on tankers and bulk carriers that transit the Gulf region. The maritime ministry said Thursday it was advising Indian crewing agencies to restrict placements on vessels transiting the Hormuz strait until conditions stabilise.

India’s formal diplomatic statement is available from the Ministry of External Affairs. The broader implications for Indian technology and manufacturing exports are discussed in coverage of the Xiaomi 17T Pro’s India manufacturing expansion. Indian Ocean trade route stability is essential to supply chains tracked in coverage of the Nubia Z80 Ultra’s South Asian rollout and Google Pixel 11’s Indian market launch.