Jaishankar lodges strong protest with Rubio over death of Indian seafarers: ‘Such lethal actions not justified’

India Expresses Strong Disapproval of US Navy’s Gulf Attacks

Jaishankar lodges strong protest with Rubio – India has raised a formal protest with the United States following incidents in the Gulf where US naval forces reportedly killed three Indian seafarers. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar engaged in discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to convey New Delhi’s firm stance on the matter.

Jaishankar Condemns Lethal Actions

In a statement posted on X, Jaishankar remarked:

“I spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio today. I emphasized India’s strong objection to the recent attacks by US Navy forces in the Gulf that led to the loss of three Indian crew members.”

He further noted that such deadly strikes on commercial shipping lack justification.

The attacks took place off the coast of Oman, targeting three vessels transporting Indian mariners. One specific event on Wednesday claimed the lives of three Indian seafarers, according to the minister. India has since summoned the US Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires to formally register its grievance.

Trump Accuses Iran of Drone Attacks

US President Donald Trump previously blamed Iran for drone strikes against Indian ships departing the Strait of Hormuz, labeling the actions “totally unacceptable.” In a post on Truth Social, he stated:

“Their totally rebuffed drone attack last night against Indian ships leaving the Hormuz Strait is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. They better get their act together and FAST.”

In response, the Iranian Embassy in India dismissed Trump’s allegations as “baseless.” The embassy also accused Washington of shifting focus from its own attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian crew. It highlighted that the US had targeted three Indian ships in under a week, leading to three fatalities.

Iranian Embassy’s Response

On X, the Iranian Embassy’s official account declared:

“The U.S. president’s claim against Iran regarding an Indian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz is simply baseless. It’s an effort to divert attention from the brutal reality that the U.S. has attacked three Indian ships in less than a week, killing three innocent sailors. That’s pathetic!”

The vessel MT Settebello was struck by gunfire after US forces alleged it breached a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Among the 24 Indian crew aboard, 21 were saved, while the remaining three were confirmed deceased.