New Delhi: The Indian government has made significant progress in ensuring the safety of its maritime assets in West Asia, with the Ministry of External Affairs confirming on Thursday that eleven Indian merchant ships have successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz. Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson for the ministry, announced during a press briefing in the capital that thirteen additional vessels continue to operate within the Persian Gulf under close monitoring. The successful transit of the ships is being attributed to a sustained period of diplomatic engagement and high-level conversations between New Delhi and Iranian authorities to manage the volatile security situation in the region.
Addressing reports that Iranian vessels might be seeking to navigate through Indian territorial waters to bypass United States blockades, the spokesperson clarified the legal standing of such movements. Jaiswal noted that while ships of any nationality are permitted to traverse international waters without specific authorization, the entry of foreign vessels into India’s sovereign territorial waters remains a complex technical matter. He indicated that any such requests would need to be evaluated by the Ministry of Shipping and other relevant technical authorities to ensure compliance with national security and maritime protocols.
The welfare of Indian seafarers remains a top priority for the administration, with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways reporting that all personnel stationed in the region are currently safe. Director of Shipping Opesh Kumar Sharma stated that there have been no hostile incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels or foreign-flagged ships carrying Indian crew members in the past forty-eight hours. The ministry has been working in tandem with various Indian missions and maritime stakeholders to facilitate the safe repatriation of over 2,999 seafarers from the Gulf region since the onset of the current tensions.
The ongoing coordination between the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Shipping aims to maintain uninterrupted maritime operations while protecting Indian citizens abroad. As New Delhi continues its diplomatic outreach to Tehran, the government is hopeful that the remaining thirteen ships in the Persian Gulf will soon be able to cross the Strait of Hormuz safely to reach their home ports. This coordinated effort underscores India’s commitment to protecting its vital trade routes and ensuring the security of its maritime workforce amidst shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.
