In a serious escalation in the already volatile West Asia theatre, two Indian vessels were allegedly forced to retreat from the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz and one was even fired upon by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, according to maritime intelligence inputs on Saturday.Global shipping monitor TankerTrackers reported that the incident was captured through two Channel 16 radio transmissions, indicating direct confrontation at sea involving Iranian forces and commercial shipping.One of the vessels, identified as Sanmar Herald, an Indian-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) transporting nearly 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude, reportedly came under direct fire. The second vessel, Jag Arnav, was also forced to withdraw westward out of the narrow maritime corridor, widely regarded as the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoint.Audio intercepts shared by the monitoring group suggest a dramatic exchange between the tanker and Iranian forces. In a distress transmission, the vessel’s crew can be heard appealing to Iranian authorities after initially being granted passage.“Sepah Navy! Motor Tanker Sanmar Herald! You gave me clearance to go… You are firing now! Let me turn back!” the transmission said, pointing to a sudden reversal in instructions followed by the use of force.The reference to “Sepah Navy” indicates the involvement of the naval wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps which has been tasked with safeguarding Iran’s strategic interests in the Gulf region.The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery through which nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes daily. Any disruption in this corridor carries immediate implications for global energy markets and maritime security.There was no immediate confirmation or response from the Ministry of External Affairs on the reported attack. It also remains unclear whether any crew members were injured or if the vessels sustained damage during the encounter.The development is likely to raise concerns in New Delhi, given India’s heavy dependence on energy imports routed through the Gulf and its growing maritime footprint in the region. Officials are expected to seek clarity through diplomatic channels even as global stakeholders closely monitor the evolving situation.