India has summoned the Iranian ambassador over an incident involving two Indian supertankers being fired upon by the Iranian Navy in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the foreign ministry.

“During the meeting, [the] foreign secretary conveyed India’s deep concern at the shooting incident earlier today involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz,” the ministry has said in a statement.

It adds that the secretary stressed the importance of the safety of merchant shipping and mariners, recalling that Iran had earlier facilitated the safe passage of several ships bound for India.

“Reiterating his concern at this serious incident of firing on merchant ships, [the] foreign secretary urged the ambassador to convey India’s views to the authorities in Iran and resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait,” the statement reads.