New Delhi :The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that 10 Indian vessels have safely passed through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz in the past week, while 14 Indian ships are still stationed in the Persian Gulf amid ongoing regional tensions.
Addressing the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have 10 Indian ships which have exited the Strait of Hormuz safely in the last few weeks. We have 14 Indian ships which are still in the Persian Gulf.”
He also provided details on recent security incidents involving foreign vessels in the region. According to him, two foreign-flagged ships came under fire a day earlier, and Indian crew members were present on board.
“All our Indian crew members who were on these ships are safe. These are foreign vessels, not Indian-flagged ships, so detailed information is limited,” Jaiswal said, adding that the safety of Indian nationals remains the government’s top priority.
He further stated that the Government of India is in continuous contact with Iran to ensure the safe passage of remaining Indian vessels and crew members in the region.
“Our continuous conversation with the government of Iran is ongoing so that the remaining ships can safely return,” he added.
Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways confirmed that all Indian seafarers operating in the region are safe following recent firing incidents involving foreign-flagged ships.
Additional Secretary Mukesh Mangal said that while no Indian-flagged vessels were affected, concerns remain over Indian crew members serving on foreign ships in the region.
“In the past 24 hours, there were incidents of firing on foreign-flag vessels. Although no Indian vessels were hit, we are concerned about Indian seafarers on board,” he said.
He confirmed that all Indian crew members have been accounted for and are safe.
“A vessel named Euphoria had 21 Indian seafarers on board, all of whom are safe. Another vessel, Epaminondas, had one Indian seafarer, who is also safe,” Mangal added.
Authorities continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with relevant agencies to ensure the safety of Indian nationals in the region.