India on Thursday condemned an attack on one of its vessels in the Gulf of Oman that left it ablaze before it sank, calling the incident “unacceptable”. The incident took place even as New Delhi hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi for the two-day Brics foreign ministers’ meeting and two India-bound liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz over the past 48 hours.
The attack on Haji Ali, an Indian dhow, or mechanised sailing vessel (MSV), took place in the early hours of Wednesday during its voyage from Somalia to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it “deplored the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted”.
“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 said.
The vessel was attacked in Omani waters, triggering a fire on board before it sank. All 14 crew members were rescued by the Omani coast guard and taken to Dibba port in Oman, Indian officials said. India thanked the Omani authorities and said the crew would be repatriated soon.
The attack came against the backdrop of heightened tensions involving the US, Israel and Iran that have disrupted shipping through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime chokepoint for roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade.
On the other hand, at an inter-ministerial briefing on the West Asia crisis, Mukesh Mangal, additional secretary at the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways, said the safe passage of two LPG vessels through the strait underlined India’s close ties with Iran.
SYMI, a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel carrying 19,965 tonnes of LPG cargo for India and crewed by 21 foreign nationals, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday and is expected to reach Kandla port in Gujarat on Saturday. NV SUNSHINE, a Vietnam-flagged vessel carrying 46,427 tonnes of LPG cargo for India and staffed by 24 foreign crew members, crossed the strait on Thursday and is expected to arrive at New Mangalore port on Monday.
Both LPG cargoes belong to state-run Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL).
Mangal said 13 Indian vessels — 12 carrying LPG and one carrying crude oil — had crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel began. With India facing an acute shortage of cooking gas amid the West Asia crisis, the government is prioritising the safe passage of LPG tankers from the region. At least 12 Indian vessels remain stranded in the Gulf, alongside several foreign ships carrying India-bound cargo.
The development comes as nearly 10 vessels, unusually high traffic since the conflict escalated, have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since May 10, according to a Bloomberg report.
Meanwhile, Araghchi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside other BRICS foreign ministers on Thursday. Addressing the BRICS meeting, the Iranian foreign minister urged the grouping to condemn the US and Israel’s military campaign against Tehran and sought India’s backing for a joint statement.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, who has also been in India for BRICS preparatory meetings, told reporters on Wednesday that Tehran was working to facilitate the passage of the remaining India-bound vessels and that Iran considered India a friend.
An oil ministry official said India had sufficient petrol and diesel stocks, while urging citizens to conserve fuel amid rising energy prices.
