As many as 23,000 Indian seafarers have been deployed across the greater Persian Gulf on various types of vessels, including merchant ships and offshore installations, and 27 vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, confirmed at a press conference on Friday.
Sinha also mentioned that the Directorate General of Shipping has remained in constant touch with these workers through their respective recruitment and placement agencies.
“To the west of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, there are 24 Indian-flagged vessels carrying a total of 677 Indian sailors, the same number as yesterday. There were earlier four vessels to the east of the Strait of Hormuz, in the Gulf of Oman; yesterday one of them – the Jag Prakash – then the oil tanker area. to remain in the area and carry 76 Indian sailors,” Sinha said.
He added, “Across the Gulf region, around 23,000 Indian seafarers are working on various vessels – including merchant ships and coastal vessels. The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) is in constant touch with all of them through relevant agencies.”
According to the MEA, 9,000 Indian nationals are being assisted in Iran
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) earlier said that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was in constant touch with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to discuss issues related to India’s maritime security and energy interests, according to ANI.
During a press conference, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “EAM and FM of Iran have held three talks in the last few days. The last one discussed issues related to shipping safety and energy security of India. Beyond that, it would be premature for me to say anything.”
The MEA spokesperson also confirmed that nearly 9,000 Indian nationals, including sailors, students, businessmen, professionals and pilgrims, are currently in Iran and receiving assistance. He noted that several Indians, especially students, have already returned to the country, while others, including pilgrims, have been shifted to safer areas in Iran. Support has also been extended to those planning to travel to Azerbaijan and Armenia to board additional commercial flights, he said further.
Jaiswal further said that India has co-sponsored the Gulf Cooperation Council resolution in the UN Security Council, which emphasizes the need to protect its diaspora in the Gulf region. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of talks with regional leaders, stressing the importance of dialogue, diplomatic engagement and civil protection.
The development comes at a time of escalating tensions in West Asia after joint military operations by the United States and Israel led to the killing of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28. In response, Iran carried out strikes on Israeli and US assets in several Gulf countries, disrupting major shipping lanes and sending shockwaves through global energy markets.
