Warning shots fired at tanker carrying 17 Indians

NEW DELHI: Iran’s coast guard fired “warning” shots at a Togo-flagged chemical tanker MT Chiron 7 carrying 17 Indian seafarers on Saturday, an Iranian shipping ministry official said. All Indian crew members on board the ship are safe, he added.This is the third incident where a foreign-flagged vessel carrying Indian sailors has been targeted by Iranian forces.Mandeep Singh Randhawa, Director of the Shipping Department, said on Monday, “The incident occurred near the boundary of Oman Shinas Outer Port. The ship was sailing along with other ships and was intercepted by the Iranian Coast Guard and warning shots were fired. All Indian crew members are safe… All Indian seafarers in the area are safe.”Last week, Iran attacked three foreign-flagged ships, two of which had 22 Indian seafarers on board.