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Indian seafarers pay the price in US-Iran war

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Adil Bhat in Uttar Pradesh, India | Richard Kujur
June 26, 2026

At least seven Indian sailors have been killed in attacks on commercial vessels since the US-Iran conflict escalated. DW spoke with the family of one victim and with a survivor of a strike on a ship near the Strait of Hormuz.

Indian nationals make up around 12% of the global merchant shipping workforce, leaving them especially exposed to the risks of the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

A US-Iran ceasefire has eased immediate tensions, but it has not removed the risks facing commercial shipping in the Gulf. For many seafarers and their families, the uncertainty continues.

Adil Bhat India correspondent with a special focus on politics, conflict and human-interest stories.
Richard Kujur Documentary filmmaker/journalist based in India
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