NEW DELHI: New Delhi on Saturday summoned Iran’s ambassador to express India’s “deep concern” after two Indian-flagged vessels were reportedly attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, according to India’s foreign ministry.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Iran’s Ambassador to India, Dr Mohammad Fathali, was called in for a meeting with the foreign secretary the same evening.
During the meeting, the foreign secretary conveyed India’s serious concern over the firing incident involving the two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
He stressed the importance India places on the safety of merchant vessels and seafarers, and also recalled that Iran had previously assisted in ensuring the safe passage of several ships bound for India.
Reiterating concern over what he described as a serious attack on commercial shipping, the foreign secretary urged the Iranian ambassador to relay India’s position to the relevant authorities in Iran and to resume, at the earliest, the process of facilitating the safe passage of India-bound vessels through the strait.
The MEA stated that the Iranian envoy assured he would convey India’s concerns to the Iranian authorities. Indian news agency ANI also shared footage showing the ambassador leaving the foreign ministry after the meeting.The development comes amid heightened tensions in the region.
Iran had briefly reopened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday but on Saturday morning declared it closed again for commercial shipping, citing continued United States restrictions and blockade of its ports.
Reuters, quoting an Indian government source, reported that an Indian-flagged crude oil tanker identified as Sanmar Herald was attacked while attempting to pass through the strait. The vessel and its crew were reported to be safe.Shipping and maritime security sources further said that at least two vessels came under fire while transiting the narrow waterway.
They also reported that some merchant ships received radio warnings from Iran’s navy stating that no vessels were permitted to pass through the route. Earlier, maritime tracking data had shown a convoy of eight tankers moving through the strategic passage, marking the first major movement of ships since the US-Israeli conflict with Iran began seven weeks ago.