India summons Iranian diplomats after sailor killed in Strait of Hormuz attack
One Indian sailor was killed and six others were injured after Iran attacked two UAE tankers
India has summoned senior Iranian diplomats, including the Deputy Chief of Mission, following the death of an Indian crew member and injuries to six others in an attack on two UAE oil tankers, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, in the Strait of Hormuz, which the UAE Ministry of Defence stated were struck by Iranian missiles while in Omani territorial waters. This incident further highlights the vulnerability of Indian seafarers, who constitute a significant portion of the global maritime workforce and have increasingly become casualties in the escalating West Asian conflict, with 14 Indian deaths reported since late February, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to emphasize the imperative of safeguarding global shipping routes and seafarers' safety on international platforms.
India has summoned senior Iranian diplomats, including the Deputy Chief of Mission, following the death of an Indian crew member and injuries to six others in an attack on two UAE oil tankers, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, in the Strait of Hormuz, which the UAE Ministry of Defence stated were struck by Iranian missiles while in Omani territorial waters. This incident further highlights the vulnerability of Indian seafarers, who constitute a significant portion of the global maritime workforce and have increasingly become casualties in the escalating West Asian conflict, with 14 Indian deaths reported since late February, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to emphasize the imperative of safeguarding global shipping routes and seafarers' safety on international platforms.
India has summoned senior Iranian diplomats, including the Deputy Chief of Mission, following the death of an Indian crew member and injuries to six others in an attack on two UAE oil tankers, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, in the Strait of Hormuz, which the UAE Ministry of Defence stated were struck by Iranian missiles while in Omani territorial waters. This incident further highlights the vulnerability of Indian seafarers, who constitute a significant portion of the global maritime workforce and have increasingly become casualties in the escalating West Asian conflict, with 14 Indian deaths reported since late February, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to emphasize the imperative of safeguarding global shipping routes and seafarers' safety on international platforms.
India on Tuesday summoned senior Iranian diplomats, including Deputy Chief of Mission Mohammad Javad Hosseini, following the death of an Indian crew member in an attack on two UAE oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to reports, the Iranian diplomats were seen leaving the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) headquarters in New Delhi after the meeting.
The diplomatic move came after the United Arab Emirates confirmed that an Indian sailor was killed and eight other crew members, including six Indians, were injured when the two tankers were struck by Iranian missiles.
The UAE Ministry of Defence said the tankers—Mombasa and Al Bahiyah—were transiting the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz in Omani territorial waters when they were hit. The deceased Indian national was serving aboard Mombasa.
The latest incident adds to the growing toll on Indian seafarers caught in the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Since the US-Israel-Iran conflict escalated on February 28, 14 Indians have been killed and thousands have been stranded across the region. Last month, three Indian seafarers were killed after a US naval strike hit an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman.
India is one of the world's largest suppliers of maritime manpower, with an estimated 3 lakh seafarers accounting for around 10–12 per cent of the global seafaring workforce.
Addressing the G7 Summit last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the need to safeguard global shipping routes and protect seafarers.
"It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of the seafarers who connect all nations through global maritime trade. We must ensure that maritime routes remain secure and that seafarers can perform their duties without fear," he said.