India took a firm stand at a mega virtual meeting led by Britain to discuss the blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Representing over 60 nations, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri expressed grave concern, stating that Indian sailors are the only ones to have lost their lives globally due to attacks on commercial vessels in this conflict. According to the Directorate General of Shipping, at least three Indian seafarers have been killed so far.

A major highlight of the meeting was the conspicuous absence of the United States. Diplomatic sources suggest that Washington skipped the meet due to a rift with Britain over military strategies against Iran. Despite the lack of US participation, India’s bilateral diplomatic efforts are yielding results. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that continuous dialogue with Iranian authorities has successfully enabled six Indian commercial vessels to safely navigate through the Strait in recent days.

India emphasized that de-escalation and healthy diplomatic discourse are the only ways out of this energy security crisis. While calling for the right to free and safe navigation in international waters, New Delhi continues its proactive engagement with Tehran to protect its economic interests and the lives of its citizens.