India Urges Safe Passage Through Strait of Hormuz, Calls for De-escalation After Attack on Merchant Ships

New Delhi: India on Tuesday renewed its call for safe and uninterrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the free movement of commercial vessels through the strategic maritime route is essential for global economic and energy security.

Speaking at the Ministry of External Affairs' weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India is closely monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia and continues to advocate restraint, dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace and stability in the region.

Jaiswal said New Delhi has conveyed its deep concern to Iran after summoning the country's Deputy Chief of Mission, Mohammad Javad Hosseini, following an attack on merchant vessels that claimed the life of an Indian sailor and left several other Indian nationals injured.

"We strongly condemned the incident and conveyed our strongest protest to the Iranian side. Such attacks must stop immediately. At the same time, both sides should pursue de-escalation and resolve differences through dialogue and diplomacy to ensure lasting peace and stability in West Asia," he said.

According to the MEA, two UAE-flagged merchant vessels, Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were struck by Iranian cruise missiles while passing through the southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz.

Jaiswal said the two ships had a total of 30 Indian crew members on board. One vessel carried 12 people, including an Indian sailor who was killed in the attack. The second vessel had 18 Indian seafarers, of whom nine sustained serious injuries, with two reported to be in critical condition.

He added that Indian seafarers have suffered the highest number of casualties among all nationalities in attacks on commercial shipping since tensions escalated in the region.

Reiterating India's position, Jaiswal said ensuring safe and unhindered navigation through the Strait of Hormuz remains crucial for maintaining global trade and safeguarding the energy security of nations across the world.

With inputs from IANS