India on Tuesday condemned the Iranian attacks on an oil industry complex in the United Arab Emirates that injured three Indians, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing the targeting of civilians and infrastructure as “unacceptable”.
The Fujairah Petroleum Industrial Park in the United Arab Emirates was targeted by drones and missiles on Monday, shortly after the US administration launched Project Freedom to escort commercial ships stranded outside the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has closed since the conflict in West Asia began on February 28. Follow Iran war news on May 5 here
Modi said on social media: “We strongly condemn the attacks on the UAE, which resulted in the injury of three Indian citizens. Targeting civilians and infrastructure is unacceptable.” He added that India stands in strong solidarity with the UAE and reiterates its support for the peaceful resolution of all issues through dialogue and diplomacy.
Ensuring safe and unhindered navigation through the Strait of Hormuz “is vital to the sustainability of regional peace, stability and global energy security,” Modi said.
Earlier, a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the attack on Fujairah as unacceptable. “We call for an immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians,” the statement read.
The Ministry reiterated India’s support for dialogue and diplomacy to deal with the situation and restore peace and stability across West Asia. It also called for unhindered freedom of navigation and trade through the Strait of Hormuz in line with international law, and said that India is “ready to support all efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution of the issues.”
The Prime Minister’s social media post and the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s statement did not directly refer to Iran. The UAE accused Iran of carrying out missile and drone attacks on Monday, including an attack on the oil industry complex in the eastern emirate of Fujairah.
Three Indians were moderately injured in a major fire in the oil industries area in Fujairah and were treated in hospital.
Monday’s attacks were the first on the UAE since Iran and the United States agreed to a ceasefire on April 8.
The Iranian Radio and Television Corporation (IRIB) quoted a military source who attributed the events to “the American military adventure that aims to create a corridor for the illegal crossing of ships through the blocked waterways in the Strait of Hormuz.” The source also said that Iran “does not have a pre-planned program to attack the aforementioned oil facilities.”
