An oil tanker captain stranded in the Persian Gulf has begged Donald Trump to prioritise the safe passage of vessels outside the conflict zone.
Raman Kapoor made the plea while speaking to GB News from onboard his tanker, which remains stuck in the war-torn region.
He said: “We are just sailors; we are not soldiers. We are not trained for any war-like situations… we feel helpless."
Captain Kapoor and his crew have been stranded in the Gulf since war broke out in Iran six weeks ago.
According to officials in Dubai, around 800 vessels are currently stuck in the Gulf, with 22 vessels having already been hit by Iranian missiles.
Captain Kapoor fears his ship could be next.
He said: “We have witnessed many missiles over our heads and heard loud explosions. It is very, very scary."
The US President has begun blockading Iranian ports after ceasefire negotiations collapsed over the weekend.
Today on Truth Social, Mr Trump warned “any ships that come close to the blockade will be immediately eliminated”.
As a result, the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply passes, remains closed.
The oil tanker captain is stranded in the Persian Gulf
|GB NEWS
Sir Keir Starmer said he will not join Mr Trump’s naval blockade, as he maintained the UK remains focused on reopening the vital shipping channel.
Speaking earlier in the Commons, the Prime Minister also criticised the “untold economic damage” of Iran’s behaviour in the Strait.
Even if a ceasefire is reached, there are growing concerns over how marine activity in the region may be resumed.
Captain Kapoor warned oil tankers may still avoid the route after Iran claimed to have mined the strait.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
His crew have been stranded since war broke out in Iran
|SUPPLIED
“It is very uncertain at the moment whether these mines have been removed,” he said.
"Even once it’s declared that the mines have been cleared, that uncertainty will remain.
"I don’t know who will be the first to risk passing through the Strait of Hormuz.”