Why is Iran now targeting Indian vessels at sea?

Iran appears to be increasingly targeting Indian-linked vessels at sea. The latest incident involves the livestock carrier Haji Ali, flying the Indian flag, which sank near the coast of Oman after being struck by a suspected drone or missile attack attributed to Iranian forces. Since the April 2026 ceasefire, multiple Indian-linked vessels have faced attacks near the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, including gunfire from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Indian-flagged ships.