New Delhi: India said it is closely monitoring developments in West Asia and called for safe and unimpeded navigation and the flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz after attacks on two vessels killed one Indian national.
Responding during the weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “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.”
Jaiswal said the MEA had summoned the Deputy Chief of Mission of Iran and conveyed India’s deepest concerns over attacks on MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa during their transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
The two vessels were carrying 30 Indian seafarers among a combined crew of 46. One Indian national onboard MT Al Bahiyah lost his life, while another was injured. On MT Mombasa, nine Indian nationals sustained injuries, including two who were seriously injured.
“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. We conveyed our strongest protest to the Iranian side on this matter, stating that these attacks must stop at the earliest,” Jaiswal said.
He also called for dialogue between Iran and the United States, saying, “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.”
The MEA condemned attacks targeting seafarers and commercial shipping, calling for immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue and diplomacy.
