Amid the ongoing Iran-US war, India has sought to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and noted that the country remains the only country to have lost sailors in attacks on commercial ships in the Gulf. Foreign Minister Vikram Misri, who represented India during a meeting held by the UK on Thursday, stressed the importance of freedom of navigation and unhindered transit through international waterways.
The meeting was intended to explore ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid growing concerns about energy supply disruptions, and while more than 60 countries participated, the United States reportedly did not participate.
Al-Masry reiterated India’s position on protecting sea routes, once again stressing the importance of freedom of navigation and unhindered transit through international waterways in the discussions held by the United Kingdom.
He highlighted the impact of the US-Iranian war on India’s energy security, and “the fact that India remains the only country that has lost its sailors in attacks on commercial ships in the Gulf.”
Al-Masry also said that “the way out of the crisis is to stop the escalation and return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue between all parties concerned.”
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Three Indian sailors killed
Three sailors were among the eight Indians killed in the conflict in West Asia, with their deaths occurring in attacks on commercial ships during the early days of the crisis.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the talks, which focused on political and diplomatic solutions rather than military action, reflected “the strength of our international determination” to reopen the Strait, according to the Associated Press.
Earlier, Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said that the United Kingdom has invited several countries, including India, for discussions on the Strait of Hormuz.
Jaiswal stressed that India supports free and open trade shipping and maritime security in line with international law. He added: “We continue to call for ensuring safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of priority.”
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The UK-led meeting was held hours after US President Donald Trump said, in his first televised speech on the war with Iran, that securing the strategic waterway was the responsibility of other countries.
Trump said countries facing fuel shortages due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz should either buy oil from the United States or “must up some overdue courage” and “just get in” the supplies. He added that the strait “will open naturally” once the conflict ends, without specifying a timetable.
