India on Saturday summoned Iranian ambassador Dr Mohammad Fathali and lodged a protest over the incident of firing on an Indian vessel at Strait of Hormuz.
Photo : AP
India on Saturday summoned Iranian ambassador Dr Mohammad Fathali and lodged a protest over the incident of firing on two Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s action against vessels in the Hormuz Strait intensified after Tehran once again closed the strategic sea trade route in retaliation to the US blockade in the region. AP quoted the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center saying that two gunboats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a tanker transiting the Hormuz. It further reported that the tanker and crew were safe, without identifying the vessel or its destination. However, TankerTrackers.com – a portal that monitors global naval traffic – reported vessels were forced to turn around in the Strait, including an Indian-flagged super tanker, after they were fired upon by Iran.
After multiple reports pointed towards an incident with Indian-flagged tankers in Hormuz, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the development and summoned the Iranian ambassador.
Issuing a statement on the matter, MEA said, “The Ambassador of Iran in New Delhi was called in by the Ministry of External Affairs for a meeting with Foreign Secretary this evening. During the meeting, Foreign Secretary conveyed India’s deep concern at the shooting incident earlier today involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz. He noted the importance that India attached to the safety of merchant shipping and mariners and recalled that Iran had earlier facilitated the safe passage of several ships bound for India. Reiterating his concern at this serious incident of firing on merchant ships, Foreign Secretary urged the Ambassador to convey India’s views to the authorities in Iran and resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait. The Ambassador of Iran undertook to convey these views to the Iranian authorities.”
Delhi: Ambassador of Iran to India, Dr. Mohammad Fathali returned to the Iranian Embassy after leaving from Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
India lodged a protest with the Iranian Ambassador over the incident of firing on an Indian vessel at Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/v7zXn3FbTl
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India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri conveyed to Iranian ambassador Mohammad Fathali India’s “deep concern” at the “shooting incident” involving the two ships in the strategic waterway, MEA informed.
Misri noted the “importance that India attached to the safety of merchant shipping and mariners and recalled that Iran had earlier facilitated the safe passage of several ships bound for India,” it said.
Is Hormuz Still Open?
Iran on Saturday rowed back on its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and fired on a tanker attempting to pass the waterway on Saturday. It warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.
Confusion over the critical chokepoint threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push the two countries toward renewed conflict, even as mediators expressed confidence a new deal was within reach.
Iran’s joint military command said on Saturday that “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state … under strict management and control of the armed forces.”
Trump Remains Firm on US Blockade in Hormuz
Saturday’s developments came after President Donald Trump said the US blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the US that includes its nuclear program. Tehran had reopened the strait Friday to commercial vessels.
Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the strait and further limits would squeeze already constrained supply, driving prices higher once again.
Iran’s Friday announcement about the opening of the crucial body of water, through which 20% of the world’s oil is shipped, came as a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon appeared to hold.
