For the second time this week, India summoned the US Charge d’Affaires Jason Meeks after the tanker MT Jalveer was struck in the Gulf of Oman by missiles fired from an American aircraft.
The two Hellfire missiles struck the engine room with US Central Command claiming the ship failed to comply with instructions. The tanker, Central Command alleged, was transporting Iranian oil.
India told the Charge d’Affaires Jason Meeks that the US conduct was “deeply worrisome”.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that all three vessels struck in recent days had Indian sailors on board and said the attacks “came from the US Navy.” While clarifying that none of the ships were Indian-owned, he reiterated India’s concern over the safety of Indian seafarers operating in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.
The attack on Jalveer followed earlier strikes on the Palau-flagged tankers MT Marivex on June 8 and MT Settebello on June 10. While all crew members aboard Marivex were rescued safely, the Settebello attack resulted in the deaths of three Indian seafarers.
The deaths aboard MT Settebello have also drawn international concern. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack through his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, who said the UN fully supports the condemnation issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez expressed “deep sadness” over the deaths and strongly condemned any action that endangers seafarers or international shipping.
Calling the incident “simply unacceptable,” Dominguez stressed that the safety of civilian shipping and freedom of navigation must be protected at all times. The IMO has also called for a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The UN chief further stated that navigational rights and freedoms under international law must be respected and urged all parties to avoid further escalation in the region.
The strikes are part of a broader US naval campaign launched on April 13 after Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing regional conflict. US forces have since targeted nine vessels designated as non-compliant, redirected 135 ships that followed instructions, and allowed 42 humanitarian vessels to pass.
The American military maintains that the blockade is being enforced against ships of all nationalities entering or departing Iranian ports along both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. But the deaths of Indian sailors have triggered difficult questions in New Delhi about the humanitarian costs of the blockade and India’s response to unilateral maritime enforcement actions outside a UN-mandated sanctions framework.
The Shipping Ministry says the Seamen Welfare Fund Society has been directed to provide Rs 10 lakh each to the next of kin of the three victims. Authorities confirmed that the remaining crew members aboard Settebello, including 21 Indians, were safely evacuated after the attack.
