This photo taken on March 11, 2026 and released by the Royal Thai Navy shows smoke rising from the Thai bulk carrier “Mayuree Naree” near the Strait of Hormuz after an attack. | Photo credit: AFP
The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday (March 12, 2026) said it was rather “premature” to discuss reports of India getting permission for ships to sail through the Strait of Hormuz.
West Asia War: Watch LIVE Updates, Highlights 12 March 2026
“The foreign minister and the foreign minister of Iran have held three talks in the last few days. The last one was about issues related to shipping security and India’s energy security. Other than that, it would be premature for me to say anything,” said Randhir Jaiswal, the ministry’s official spokesman.
As oil tankers and cargo ships were attacked by suicide boats, drones and missiles, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke to his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday (March 10, 2026).
The Iranian Foreign Minister reminded that the uncertain situation and problems arising for shipping in the Persian Gulf are the result of the aggressive and destabilizing actions of the United States, and the international community must hold the US accountable for this situation,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said after the phone call.
Also read | Conflict in West Asia: Saudi oil tanker reaches Mumbai after crossing the Strait of Hormuz
Cargo ships continued to be targeted in the strait, although India and Iran remained engaged at the ministerial level. The Thai-flagged ship Mayuree Naree was hit near the Iraqi port of Basra on Wednesday, resulting in the death of one Indian sailor. The ship was bound for Kandla port in Gujarat.
Following the incident, the Ministry of External Affairs said: “India condemns the fact that commercial shipping is becoming the target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Precious lives, including those of Indian citizens, have already been lost in many such attacks in the earlier phase of this conflict, and the intensity and lethality of the attacks seem to be only increasing.”
India has expressed concern over the targeting of merchant navy ships stranded both in the Gulf and in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz. Government sources claimed that Indian sailors are a large number of sailors on such ships and Iranian attacks put their lives at risk.
Also read | Trump says US benefits from high oil prices; Iran and Israel continue to fire each other
Since the start of the war on February 28, at least four Indian sailors have been killed in attacks. The first ship hit was MT Sky Light, followed by hits on MT Vyom (off the coast of Oman) and LCT ALYH. Besides, at least 20 other Indian sailors were injured in several attacks on ships, sources said.
While the injured sailors receive treatment in Oman, the families of the dead sailors face uncertainty. Family members of Ashish Kumar, the captain of MT Sky Light, who was known to have died in the attack, refused to believe the government’s findings.
Speaking to The Hindu, they were seeking further confirmation in the form of DNA tests from the physical remains in Oman before accepting the news of his death. The sources said the results of the DNA tests would be shared after Oman completes certain legal procedures, which take time due to uncertainty over the conflict.
Published – 12 March 2026 22:54 IST
