In UNSC, India condemns attacks on vessels in Hormuz

Describing the escalation of hostilities in West Asia as “deeply concerning”, India has strongly condemned recent attacks on several maritime vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, calling for the restoration of unimpeded navigation and trade through international waterways in the region.

Terming West Asia as a region of “immense importance” to India, Permanent Representative of India to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said, “After a brief pause in the ongoing conflict in the region, there has been a worrying resumption of attacks and escalation of hostilities. This is deeply concerning and India calls for an immediate de-escalation of tensions.”

Addressing a UN Security Council open debate on the situation in the Middle East on Tuesday, Harish voiced India’s strong condemnation of attacks on several vessels – GFS Galaxy, MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa among them - during their transit through the Strait of Hormuz this month.

“Several Indian citizens were injured, including some seriously, one Indian tragically lost his life, and one is missing, in these attacks. India has consistently condemned acts of violence targeting seafarers and disrupting free and safe navigation through international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

India strongly advocates a return to dialogue and diplomacy in the interests of peace, security and stability in the region. “The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region, in keeping with international law, must be restored,” Harish said.

Amid the US-Israel war against Iran, the UN has noted that following attacks on commercial vessels from July 6, Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed again on July 11. Daily transits, which exceeded 100 before the conflict and had recovered to 49 by July 7, fell to as low as 8-15 by mid-July, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific has said.

Harish underscored that India’s stakes in the security and stability of the region are high and noted that India’s trade and energy supply chains are strongly linked to the West Asia region.