At a time when the US arsenal in the Persian Gulf has taken a big bashing from Iran, there seems no chance of President DJ Trump getting persuaded to stop parroting his false claims of “obliterating” Iran’s navy and air force and begin to meaningfully work towards peace. Meanwhile India has been working at keeping its energy shipping protected and escorted to its shores.
Following much escalation in the US-Iran conflict since February-March 2026 along with strict controls imposed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the Strait of Hormuz, the Indian Navy, under Operation Urga Suraksaha (energy protection) began maintaining a high-alert deployment in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Arabian Sea to secure Indian commercial shipping passing through the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz.
While Iran's theocratic leadership has maintained a relationship with India based on historic ties and a strategic partnership based on India developing the Chabahar Port, the IRGC has maintained its own agenda, which included targeting Indian/India bound merchant ships/tankers-maybe not every time but often enough. The latest incident was on May 13, 2026, when an Indian-flagged cargo ship, Haji Ali, sank off the coast of Oman after being attacked. The incident sparked fire amid heightened Iran-US tensions. All 14 Indian crew members were safely rescued by the Oman Coast Guard and were reported safe.
On December 8, 2025, ICRG forcefully detained 16 Indian crew members of the merchant tanker MT Valiant Roar in the Gulf for alleged fuel smuggling. While ten of these sailors were initially moved to a prison in Bandar Abbas, the eight who remained on board were subsequently released in February 2026. By early 2026, 348 other Indian citizens from Iran had also been returned.
All this and more is being done India’s group of Ministries of External Affairs (MEA), Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) through the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), , Defence (MoD), Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Indian Missions in the region and on the waters, a powerful flotilla of the Indian Navy.
By March 20, 2026, the IRGC established a designated "safe corridor" closer to the Iranian coastline and warned against any deviation. India’s officials coordinated with regional authorities to facilitate the passage of Indian ships through this area. Despite a temporary, fragile ceasefire in early April, the area remained a high-risk zone partly owing to reported unrecorded mines laid by IRGC and its offensive actions including firing at ships necessitating close-protection escorts for critical fuel imports.
Following an incident on April 18, 2026, when IRGC personnel fired on two Indian-linked vessels, on the same day, India summoned the Iranian envoy in New Delhi to demand safe and uninterrupted passage for Indian vessels. Iran maintained that "Indian friends" are in safe hands, even while conducting strict monitoring and allowing only selected vessels to pass.
The Indian Navy significantly boosted its maritime power by deploying two aircraft carrier battle groups, led by INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. Operating together in the Persian Gulf, they amount a formidable force for sea control with over 35 aircraft. Having numerous warships and submarines highlights India's commitment to security in the Indian Ocean region, clearly projecting power and strengthening maritime diplomacy.
This move combined with New Delhi’s high-level diplomatic pressure on Iran proved to be effective on the IRGC and resulted in Indian-flagged vessels being allowed passing through the highly volatile region where other nations' shipping faced complete restrictions. In early May 2026 the Indian government decisively asserting maritime rights informed Tehran that no special permission or "protection fees" were needed for Indian vessels, which will move under active guidance by Indian Navy.
The significant result of these actions was that over 14 (another version is 22) India-bound ships carrying energy cargo were repatriated by Indian Navy efforts, through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Indian Navy has reportedly been receiving praise for its effective, independent, and proactive security operations as well as being a rapid-response security provider in the Indian Ocean Region. By successfully tackling piracy and maritime threats (like MV Lila Norfolk, FV Al Naeemi and FV Iman-all three in January 2024 and the MV Ruen hijacking in March 2024 to name a few), utilizing advanced surveillance, and ensuring open, rules-based sea lanes, Indian Navy is recognized as a force that guarantees stability and safeguards regional interests. Its Task Forces are consistently securing Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs) and conducting daring rescue missions of commercial vessels targeted in the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden.
Hosting the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 in February, India showcased its growing indigenous shipbuilding prowess and strong international partnerships, with a tally of 75 nations, making it one of the largest maritime engagements in the region. Also in February, Indian Navy assumed command of the 47 nations Combined Task Force 154 to focus on training and maritime security-an indicator of the growing trust in India’s professional expertise.
India has also begun to be considered as nation which maintains its security role independently rather than formally joining US-led coalitions, which has been noted as a significant aspect of its foreign policy.
The US Navy, on the other hand has been facing operational challenges in the Red Sea, with a major one reportedly indicating that the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group faced significant difficulties during its deployment there. Also, reports cite multiple F/A-18 Super Hornets lost in 2025/2026, with some incidents involving jets going overboard due to failed landings and hanger accidents. These losses occurred during a high-tempo battle against Houthi forces in Yemen. Investigations into these losses have pointed toward training gaps, equipment failures, and intense, continuous operational pressure. On April 9, 2026, the US Navy confirmed that a highly advanced and expensive MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) surveillance drone was lost over the Persian Gulf. Each unit is estimated to cost between $200 million and $240 million. The drone disappeared near the Strait of Hormuz after sending an in-flight emergency signal. The U.S. Naval Safety Command classified the event as a "Class A mishap", indicating that the drone was destroyed and the loss exceeds $250 million. The incident occurred during rising tensions in the region with Iran. While some reports speculated about potential interception or electronic warfare interference, official reports at the time stated the drone "crashed," with no injuries to personnel. This was the first known operational loss of an MQ-4C Triton, which is considered a massive financial and strategic blow, as only about 20 of these drones were in service as of 2025. This incident follows a series of reported drone losses in the region, bringing the total value of lost or damaged aerial assets to over $700 million at the time.
Since early 2026, there has reportedly been significant damage to U.S. military infrastructure following its escalating conflict with Iran. Over 228 structures, including hangars and radar systems and pieces of equipment at US military bases across the Middle East were damaged or destroyed.
While President Trump has claimed that the U.S. military "virtually destroyed" Iran's Navy and Air Force, stating that Iran's drone capacity is reduced and their leadership affected, these statements coincide with reports of a more complex and damaging military scenario in the Gulf than publicly acknowledged by the White House.
The sacking of Army Chief of Staff General Randy George and other senior officers by U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and that too during the ongoing conflict with Iran, is widely reported as a highly alarming and disruptive move creating a leadership void and causing panic within the Pentagon. And the Pentagon acknowledging the loss of 39 high-value aircraft along with the strained relations between the administration and military leadership is a great strain on U.S. military resources. Trump’s strategy and its implementation have faced scrutiny from lawmakers and analysts, raising concerns about the long-term impact on U.S. military readiness.
According to The Times of India of May 13, 2026, Iran has restored 30 Hormuz missile sites as US intelligence contradicts ‘shattered military’ claims. Classified American intelligence assessments reportedly reveal that Iran regained operational access to most missile facilities along the Strait of Hormuz after the ceasefire. The findings challenge repeated claims from Trump’s administration that Tehran’s military capabilities had been destroyed. Reports suggest Iran still retains nearly seventy percent of its missile stockpile, while underground launch facilities across the country are now partially or fully operational. The developments come after months of American and Israeli attacks as well as Iran’s massive retaliatory missile campaign targeting US and Israeli assets across the region.
On the prospects of peace, the latest example is of a typical “Trumpism”. Trump has responded on May 11, 2026, dismissing a peace proposal from Iran as "totally unacceptable … a piece of garbage … stupid". Also typical of Trump is his approach of both active deal-making and aggressive negotiation/bullying tactics, which greatly raise the risk of escalating the conflict.
About a week later Trump delayed a planned large-scale military strike on Iran, citing urgent appeals from leaders in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, who requested the pause to allow for ongoing diplomatic negotiations cantered on a potential deal over Iran's nuclear program. Despite all his bluster, Trump knows that Iran can retaliate and cause even further destruction of America’s arsenal. And even though he maintains that the US military is prepared for a full-scale assault if the talks collapse, he should know that such an option will be very costly in terms of fatal casualties and also extrication. At this stage, the best bet may be for the Gulf States to continue to prevail upon US to hold on and also try to convince Iran to come up with a deal that Trump can accept without “losing face”. Or is it like asking for the moon?
The author a strategic affairs analyst and former spokesperson, Defence Ministry and Indian Army, can be contacted at wordsword02@gmail.com
