NEW DELHI — External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has conducted a series of high-stakes telephonic conversations with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to address the escalating threats to maritime security in the West Asia region. In a press briefing on Thursday, March 12, 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the discussions focused on ensuring the safety of commercial shipping and safeguarding India’s energy interests amidst ongoing hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz.
The diplomatic intervention comes as the region faces a severe maritime crisis following military escalations between Iran and U.S.-Israeli forces. According to MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, Jaishankar and Araghchi have spoken three times in recent days, emphasizing the “safe passage of ships and maintaining stable energy supplies.” The urgency is underscored by the fact that nearly 90% of India’s LPG imports and a significant portion of its crude oil transit through the now-volatile Strait.
Indian Seafarer Fatality and Evacuation Efforts
The briefing coincided with the grim confirmation from the Indian Embassy in Iraq of a fatal attack on the US-owned crude oil tanker Safesea Vishnu.
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Casualty Reported: One Indian crew member lost his life during an attack near Basra on March 11.
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Evacuation: The remaining 15 Indian crew members on the vessel have been successfully evacuated to a safe location.
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Citizen Safety in Iran: The MEA reported that approximately 9,000 Indian nationals, including students and pilgrims, remain in Iran. Many have been moved from Tehran to safer interior cities, while others are being assisted in exiting via land borders into Azerbaijan and Armenia to catch commercial flights home.
Geopolitical Context and Maritime Blockade
The hostilities have intensified following the IRGC’s declaration that all vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz must obtain explicit permission from Tehran. This policy was enforced on Wednesday with attacks on the Express Rome and the Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree, the latter of which was bound for India’s Kandla port.
While sources have indicated that Iran may allow Indian-flagged vessels “safe passage” as a gesture toward a neutral partner, the MEA has remained firm in its condemnation of targeting civilian infrastructure. “India deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks,” the Ministry stated, highlighting that the “intensity and lethality” of these strikes are posing an unacceptable risk to global trade.
