New Delhi, Apr 29: India has deplored targeting of commercial ships crossing through the Strait of Hormuz saying such acts are unacceptable.
Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Ms. Yogna Patel, said that attempts to target commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz is highly deplorable.
Ms. Patel in her statement at the U N Security Council, said that the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz is of great concern for India in terms of the country’s energy and economic security.
Ms. Yojna Patel stressed that India sees maritime security and the protection of waterways as essential to global security and economy.
“As a major trading nation, India strongly deplores the recent targeting of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the endangerment of innocent civilian crew members. Such actions have resulted in the tragic loss of precious lives of Indian seafarers and are unacceptable,” Ms. Patel said during the debate held under the Council Presidency of Bahrain.
India reiterated that freedom of navigation and global commerce through the Strait of Hormuz must be fully respected in accordance with international law and urged that safe and unimpeded maritime passage be restored at the earliest.
India is among the top three seafarer-supplying nations, contributing approximately 13 per cent of the global seafaring workforce.
“India remains deeply concerned about the safety and welfare of its seafarers. Any disruption, obstruction or purported closure of vital waterways has direct consequences for global economy, energy and humanitarian supply chains,” Patel said.
The Ministry of External Affairs said last month that eight Indian seafarers had died in the Strait as a result of the conflict, adding that the whereabouts of one is “not known” yet.
Two Indian-flagged merchant vessels, the Sanmar Herald (crude oil tanker) and Jag Arnav (bulk carrier), were fired upon by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz around April 17-18, 2026. The vessels were forced to turn back, though no injuries were reported, and the crews remained safe. India protested the incident. Ends
