India has formally protested to the United States following a US Navy strike in the Gulf of Oman that killed three Indian sailors aboard a Palau-flagged oil tanker. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling the lethal action against commercial shipping 'not justified'. The tanker, Settebello, was carrying 24 Indian nationals when it was disabled by US forces who said it failed to comply with naval instructions and was transporting oil from Iran in violation of a US blockade.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned the US Charge d'Affaires to lodge a formal protest, emphasizing that attacks on civilian vessels undermine maritime safety and regional stability. The MEA reiterated its call for de-escalation, linking the incident to broader dangers in the Middle East conflict zone. Twenty-one Indian crew members were rescued, while the three missing were later confirmed dead.

US Central Command confirmed the strike, stating that the vessel ignored repeated warnings. The incident has intensified diplomatic scrutiny over the rules of engagement for naval forces in high-tension zones, especially when civilian lives are at risk. India stresses that commercial vessels with its nationals aboard must not become targets in geopolitical standoffs.