India Strongly Condemns Fresh Attacks on Ships in Strait of Hormuz, Calls for De-escalation

India has strongly condemned the recent attacks on multiple commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, describing the renewed escalation of hostilities in West Asia as "deeply concerning." The country has called for the immediate restoration of uninterrupted navigation and commercial shipping through international waterways in the region. Addressing the United Nations Security Council's open debate on the situation in the Middle East on Tuesday, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, described West Asia as a region of "immense importance" for India. He said that the resumption of attacks and renewed hostilities following a brief pause in the conflict was alarming and urged all sides to take immediate steps to reduce tensions. Harish also strongly condemned the attacks carried out this month on several vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, including GFS Galaxy, MT Al Bahia, and MT Mombasa. He said that several Indian nationals were injured in the attacks, with some sustaining serious injuries. He further stated that one Indian citizen had tragically lost his life while another remains missing. Harish reiterated that India has consistently condemned acts of violence targeting seafarers and any attempts to disrupt free and secure navigation through international waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz. Amid the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, the United Nations noted that Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed again on July 11 following attacks on commercial vessels that began on July 6. According to the UN Economic and Social Commission, daily vessel traffic through the strait, which exceeded 100 ships before the conflict and had already declined to 49 by July 7, fell further to between 8 and 15 vessels per day by the middle of July. Harish emphasized that peace and stability in West Asia are of critical importance to India, noting that the country's trade and energy supply chains remain closely linked with the region. He highlighted that India shares approximately $180 billion in annual bilateral trade with the region, has accumulated more than $31 billion in foreign direct investment, and receives over $52 billion in remittances from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. According to Harish, these economic ties have a direct impact on India's economy and energy security. He also pointed out that nearly 10 million Indians live and work across the Gulf region, adding that ensuring their safety and well-being remains India's highest priority.