India has renewed its call for safe and unhindered navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after an Iranian strike on UAE merchant vessels killed an Indian sailor and injured several others….reports Asian Lite News Desk
India on Tuesday renewed its call for safe and unhindered navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after an Iranian strike on two UAE merchant vessels killed an Indian sailor and injured several others, while urging all parties to pursue dialogue and de-escalation to restore peace in West Asia.
Addressing a weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the free flow of commerce through the strategic waterway remains essential for global economic and energy security.
“We are closely following the developments in West Asia. We continue to call for safe and unimpeded navigation and the flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz. This is key for ensuring the economic and energy security of people across the world. We issued a statement after summoning the Deputy Chief of Mission of Iran. We conveyed to them our deepest concerns and that we strongly condemned what has happened. We lost a precious Indian life, and several Indian nationals have been injured, a couple of them seriously injured,” Jaiswal said.
India summoned Iranian diplomats, including Deputy Chief of Mission Mohammad Javad Hosseini, following the attack to register a strong protest over the incident.
“We conveyed our strongest protest to the Iranian side on this matter, stating that these attacks must stop at the earliest. At the same time, there should be de-escalation, and the two sides should come to the negotiating table and take the path of dialogue and diplomacy so that peace and stability can be ensured in West Asia,” Jaiswal added.
According to the MEA, UAE tankers Mombasa and Al Bahiyah were struck by two Iranian cruise missiles while transiting the southern passage of the Strait of Hormuz.
Providing details of the casualties, Jaiswal said the two vessels carried a total of 30 Indian crew members.
“I do not have the complete details you are asking for at the moment, but I can say that the two ships that were attacked last night, or this morning, depending on the timing, had a total of 30 Indian seafarers on board. On one ship, which had 12 people on board, one Indian seafarer lost his life. On the other ship, which had 18 Indian seafarers on board, nine sustained serious injuries, of whom two are in critical condition. This is the information relating to the attack that took place last night, or this morning,” he said.
The MEA spokesperson also noted that Indian nationals have suffered disproportionately in attacks on commercial shipping since tensions escalated in the region.
“Apart from this, there have been several other fatalities involving our (Indian) nationals. I can also say that, among all nationalities, Indian seafarers have suffered the highest number of deaths in attacks on commercial shipping,” he said.
India has consistently advocated restraint and diplomacy amid rising tensions in West Asia, maintaining that the security of international shipping lanes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, is crucial for global trade and energy supplies.
