An Indian seafarer is missing and 10 others have been rescued after a Cyprus-flagged ship they were on came under fire from Tehran in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident occurred amidst escalating tensions between Iran and the US, with both countries attacking each other in the last 24 hours. New Delhi has condemned the attack on the merchant vessel off the coast of Oman, which had 11 Indian nationals on board.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the targeting of civilian shipping and infrastructure in the region must end, and called for immediate de-escalation of tensions and a diplomatic solution to restore peace and stability in the region. The MEA confirmed that 10 Indian nationals have been rescued, while one is reportedly missing. The Indian embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing search and rescue operation.
The MEA thanked the Omani authorities for their support and expressed concern over the continuing incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region. The US Central Command reported that the Cyprus-flagged container ship was hit by Iran and suffered significant engine room damage, with a civilian crew member missing. The US Central Command forces began launching the third round of strikes this week against Iran after the attack.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre stated that the ship was traveling on a route hugging the shoreline of Oman to avoid Iranian territorial waters. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed that multiple vessels disregarded warnings and instructions to correct their course, and one of them was struck by a warning shot and brought to a stop. India has condemned the attacks in the past, but has been careful not to name Iran.
The latest escalation comes as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited four countries in West Asia and is now headed to the US. The incident has put Indian lives in danger yet again, with 11 Indians having lost their lives in the conflict since February 28. India has been engaging with Tehran and Washington to safeguard Indian lives in the region.
