India Denounces Missile Strike on Indian Vessel Off Oman Coast
The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a strong condemnation against a missile strike on a commercial vessel flying the Indian flag off the coast of Oman, labeling the occurrence as "unacceptable" amidst escalating tensions in the area.
In a statement released on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed India's disapproval of the continued assaults on commercial ships and civilian mariners.
The statement emphasized that the attack on the Indian-flagged vessel near Oman is intolerable and criticized the targeting of commercial shipping and civilian crew members.
The ministry assured that all Indian crew members aboard the ship were unharmed and thanked the Omani authorities for their prompt rescue efforts following the incident.
India also emphasized the critical need for the protection of international maritime trade routes and the preservation of free navigation.
“India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided,” the MEA stated.
The statement omitted the identification of any group or nation responsible for the attack. This event transpired amid rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing conflicts involving Iran and Western nations.
This development occurred during the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to India for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi, where he discussed global power dynamics and Iran's strategic role within the BRICS alliance.
