Jaishankar reiterates India's 'strong protest' over killing of Indian sailors in a call with Marco Rubio

External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar on Saturday said that he had spoken to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressing his strong condemnation of the attack on a commercial vessel that killed three Indian sailors off the coast of Oman. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Jaishankar said he had reiterated "India's strong protest" against the tragic incident to his American counterpart.

He went on to make it clear that such attacks are "not justified". "Spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this evening. I reiterated India’s strong protest at the attacks by the US Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners," the Indian external affairs minister wrote in a post on Saturday.

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"Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified," he added. It is pertinent to note that the conversation over the matter came just days after three Indian crew members were killed in an American strike on the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello off the coast of Oman; this triggered a sharp response from New Delhi.

The vessel in question had 24 members on board, out of which 21 were rescued. Soon after the incident, New Delhi lodged a strong protest against Washington and summoned the US Charg d'Affaires in New Delhi.

India condemns the incident

The Ministry of External Affairs then went on to release a statement, stating that it had conveyed its deep concerns over the use of lethal force against civilian shipping. The ministry made it clear that such attacks on commercial vessels undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce.

During a press briefing earlier this week, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the attacks on merchant vessels carrying Indian crew members "must cease immediately". He emphasised the need for dialogue and diplomacy to ensure the resolution of the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, which has rocked West Asia.

As of now, three merchant vessels, carrying Indian crew members, have been attacked in the Gulf region, raising concerns over the safety of the Indian seafarers. In response to this, the Government of India has directed relevant agencies to remain on high alert and coordinate closely with the Indian Navy, shipping companies and international maritime authorities.

Meanwhile, the American military argued that the Settebello was targeted after allegedly failing to comply with instructions issued by American forces during enforcement of a blockade on Iran-linked shipping.