New Delhi, April 23: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday that 14 Indian ships have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks, while another 14 remain stranded in the Persian Gulf.
During a weekly press briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “In the past few weeks, ten of our Indian ships have safely exited the Strait of Hormuz. However, 14 Indian vessels are still present in the Persian Gulf.”
The Strait of Hormuz and its surrounding areas continue to experience heightened tensions. This vital maritime route accounts for nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil trade. The situation has become increasingly sensitive due to ongoing conflicts in West Asia.
On Wednesday, Iran attacked a vessel heading towards India’s Mundra Port in the Strait of Hormuz. This incident occurred just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an indefinite ceasefire.
The attacked ship was one of two vessels claimed by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N). According to Iran’s state channel Press TV, the vessels involved are named MSC Francesca and Epaminondas.
Ship tracking websites indicate that the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas was en route from Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port to Mundra in Gujarat, scheduled to arrive on Thursday. Another source noted that the ship belongs to the Greek company Kalmar Maritime LLC.
On Saturday, Iran also targeted two Indian ships that had been granted permission to pass through the area.
In response to these incidents, India expressed strong opposition to Iran. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, to discuss the matter.
During this meeting, India conveyed its deep concerns, stating that the firing on Indian vessels is a serious issue.
The MEA’s statement emphasized, “The Foreign Secretary clearly stated that the safety of our ships and crew is paramount. He also reminded that Iran had previously provided safe passage to several Indian vessels.”
India urged Iran to take this matter seriously and to promptly resume the safe passage of ships heading to India.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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