India condemns attacks on ships in Strait of Hormuz at UN
New Delhi: India has raised concerns at the UN over attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, with its Permanent Representative to the UN Parvathaneni Harish terming the targeting of civilian ships and crews as “unacceptable” amid rising tensions in West Asia.Addressing a special meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNECOSOC) on Friday, Harish warned that attacks on commercial shipping threaten global energy and supply chains, days after an Indian-flagged vessel was attacked off the coast of Oman. The meeting focused on “Securing Energy and Supply Flows: Supporting Global Development through International Cooperation”.In a post on Sunday X, Harish said he shared India’s view on the recent fuel and fertilizer crisis caused by conflicts in West Asia.“International cooperation as well as coordination of short-term and structural measures is essential to address the crisis,” he said.“Reiterated that targeting commercial shipping, endangering civilian crews and obstructing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is unacceptable. International law on this matter must be fully respected,” he added.The comments came after a May 13 attack on an Indian-flagged merchant ship off Somalia amid growing instability in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway through which about one-fifth of the world’s energy supplies pass.Omani authorities have rescued 14 crew members on board. It was not immediately known who carried out the strike.The Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned the attack, describing it as “unacceptable” and expressed concern over repeated attacks on commercial ships in the region.“Yesterday’s attack on an Indian-flagged vessel off the coast of Oman is unacceptable and we condemn the continued targeting of commercial shipping and civilian seafarers,” the MEA spokesperson said in a statement.“All the Indian crew on board are safe and we thank the Omani authorities for rescuing them,” the statement added.According to officials, at least two more Indian-flagged ships have been attacked since the conflict erupted in West Asia on February 28 following a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran and subsequent retaliatory strikes.Recent developments have raised concerns about maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global trade and energy corridor that has witnessed severe disruption since the conflict intensified.
