Jaishankar lashes out over deaths of Indians in Strait of Hormuz as US displays arrogance

New Delhi: The US attacked a ship in the waters near Oman. Indian sailors were on board that vessel; three of them were killed. India lodged a strong protest against this. Subsequently, a heated exchange took place between India's External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The vessel in question, named 'MT Cetebello', was operating under the flag of Palau near the coast of Oman. It carried a crew of 24 Indian sailors. The US Navy attacked the ship. Following the attack, 21 sailors were rescued, but three went missing. It was later confirmed that the three missing sailors had lost their lives. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed strong objection to the incident. The US did not take this well and warned against breaching the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

What transpired between Jaishankar and Rubio?

On Friday, Jaishankar spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He registered India's strong protest, noting that three Indian sailors had been killed in attacks by the US Navy in the Gulf. Jaishankar wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that such lethal action against ordinary vessels is completely unjustifiable.

Rubio called Jaishankar back on Saturday. He stated that the US would not tolerate any violation of its blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. In essence, the US maintained a firm stance that the region is under its control and no one may enter without permission.

What was India's stance on the attack?

It was not a warship; it was an ordinary merchant vessel transporting cargo at sea, manned by Indian nationals. The US attacked it, resulting in the deaths of three Indians. India considered this action entirely wrong.

What action did India take following the attack?

India immediately lodged a strong protest with the US. The Ministry of External Affairs summoned the US Chargé d'Affaires—the senior-most US diplomat currently in India—and clearly conveyed its displeasure. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that attacks on ships carrying Indian sailors must stop immediately. He also emphasized that peace in the region can only be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy.

What did US President Donald Trump say?

On Friday, US President Donald Trump accused Iran of targeting Indian ships. In a social media post, President Trump wrote, "Iran's drone attack on Indian ships is completely unacceptable. They must immediately mend their ways."