Thailand Protests Iran Over Mayuree Naree Ship: Three Crew Members Missing in Strait of Hormuz
The Thai government on Thursday, 12 March 2026, formally requested clarification and lodged a strong protest with Iran following an attack on the Thai-flagged cargo vessel Mayuree Naree in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, 11 March, resulted in at least three crew members going missing amid escalating military conflict between the US-Israel alliance and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has been ongoing since late February.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Iran’s Ambassador to Bangkok, Nassereddin Heidari, to demand accountability for the safety of Thai civilians. The Mayuree Naree, carrying 23 sailors, was struck while en route to India from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Immediately after the attack hit the stern of the vessel, Omani Naval forces quickly rescued 20 crew members. However, three other sailors believed to be in the engine room at the time of the explosion remain unaccounted for.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) had previously issued warnings that all ships transiting the waterway must obtain permission from Tehran. Thailand expressed deep concern that the crisis has threatened freedom of navigation and the safety of civilians from various nations.
Attacks on civilian vessels in the Persian Gulf have claimed victims from various Asian countries. According to available data, at least 19 Asian nationals have been reported dead or missing since the conflict erupted on 28 February.
Beyond Thai nationals, the Indonesian government is also attempting to locate three Indonesian citizens reported missing in the Strait of Hormuz. These three Indonesians were crew members of the tugboat Musaffah 2, which exploded and sank on 6 March 2026 due to the conflict in the region.
To date, Bangkok continues to intensify the evacuation of its citizens from the Middle East. A total of 34 Thai nationals have recently arrived in their home country after being evacuated via Turkey to avoid the expanding conflict zone.