Iran allegedly carried out drone strike on Indian vessels leaving Hormuz, says Trump

US President Donald Trump on Friday claimed that Iran had launched a “drone attack” on Indian ships leaving the Strait of Hormuz, a statement that immediately raised concern and confusion in both New Delhi and Tehran.

Trump made the allegation in a post on his Truth Social platform, amid ongoing last-stage negotiations between the United States and Iran over a proposed peace arrangement linked to a ceasefire agreed earlier this year.

In his post, Trump wrote: “Also, their totally rebuffed Drone attack last night against Indian Ships leaving the Hormuz Strait is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,” while also accusing Iran of leaking details of the peace talks to what he described as “Fake News” and questioning Tehran’s intent in the negotiations.

The remarks came at a sensitive diplomatic moment. On the same day, India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned the senior US diplomat in New Delhi, charge d’affaires Jason Meeks, for the second time this week, to raise concerns over recent attacks involving merchant vessels in the Gulf of Oman that left three Indian seafarers dead. Officials said the vessels involved included two Palau-flagged ships and one registered in Guinea-Bissau, all carrying Indian crew members.

However, individuals familiar with the situation in both India and Iran said there were no confirmed reports of any drone attack on Indian-flagged vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday night or thereafter. They also noted that at least 13 Indian-flagged ships are currently awaiting transit through the strategically sensitive waterway.

As of now, neither India nor Iran has issued any official confirmation supporting Trump’s claim of a drone strike.

Following his post, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on social media that progress on a memorandum of understanding with the US had “never been closer,” urging media and officials to avoid speculation over the details of ongoing negotiations.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also commented on the evolving diplomatic situation, saying that a “final, agreed upon text of the peace deal has been reached” between Iran and the US, and adding that Pakistan was working with both sides to help finalise the next steps.

The situation remains uncertain, with conflicting statements from political leaders and officials, and no independent confirmation of the alleged drone attack so far.