NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs on Thursday registered protest against repeated strikes on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz amid the renewed US-Iran-Israel war. This came after recent attack on Palau-flagged MT Settebello while transiting the Gulf of Oman which left 3 Indians dead.“There have been several incidents involving Indian seafarers in West Asia in the last few days. We attach high importance to the welfare and well-being of our seafarers’ community. We need not re-emphasise this point. Yesterday, we condemned the attack on a ship off the coast of Oman in which, unfortunately, we lost three Indian nationals,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.“We had summoned the US CDA here to register a strong protest. The continuing incidents of attacks on shipping in the region are deeply worrisome and a direct result of the ongoing conflict in the region. These attacks must cease and end. We also call for dialogue and diplomacy so that we can have an early return to peace and stability in the region,” he added.MEA summoned US Charge d’Affaires Jason Meeks on Wednesday and lodged a protest amid growing concerns that commercial vessels employing Indian sailors are increasingly being affected by the ongoing conflict. During the meeting, officials reportedly emphasized that attacks on commercial shipping must cease and highlighted the need to ensure the safety and security of seafarers navigating international waters.21 of the 24 Indian crew members were rescued after the attack, while the other three were initially unaccounted for, which later were confirmed dead.The incident occurred against the backdrop of rising tensions in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint for global trade.
