India has lodged a strong protest with Iran over missile attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Iranian embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday and formally objected to the strikes on two merchant ships. One Indian sailor died in the attacks, while several other Indian crew members aboard the vessels were injured in the incident.
India demands an immediate end to the attacks
The Ministry said India is deeply concerned over the renewed maritime attacks and the rising tension across West Asia. It appealed to all the parties involved to halt the violence at the earliest and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy, so that peace, security and stability can be preserved in the region. India stated clearly that attacks on commercial ships and non military installations must stop immediately. According to India, only then can vessels move freely and safely along international shipping lanes, allowing disrupted global maritime trade to return to normal. This appeal was made public through the Ministry's official statement issued on Tuesday.
30 Indians among 46 crew on the two ships
According to the Ministry, the two vessels that came under attack are MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa. Together, the two ships were carrying 46 crew members, of whom 30 were Indian nationals. MT Al Bahiyah had 12 Indian sailors on board, one of whom died and another was injured. On MT Mombasa, 18 Indians were present, and 9 crew members were injured. Of these 9 injured, 2 Indians are said to be in critical condition. In all, of the 30 Indians across both ships, one died and ten were hurt.
Condolences for the family, wishes for the injured
The Ministry conveyed deep condolences to the family of the Indian sailor who lost his life and wished a speedy recovery to the injured crew members. It said the Indian embassy and consulate in the UAE are continuously monitoring the entire situation. Indian officials are in constant touch with the UAE administration to ensure every possible assistance reaches the affected Indian sailors. The Ministry also clarified that the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Iranian embassy was summoned in New Delhi on Tuesday morning, and India officially registered this strong protest through that meeting.
Why this stretch of water matters so much
The Strait of Hormuz is counted among the busiest shipping routes in the world, with a large number of cargo vessels and oil tankers passing through it every day. Attacks in this stretch of water therefore endanger not just the crews of passing ships but also carry the risk of disrupting global trade more broadly. The issue matters particularly for India because a large number of Indian sailors serve on merchant vessels across the world, which means incidents like this one have a direct bearing on the safety of Indian citizens.
