India condemns attack on ships in Strait of Hormuz at UN
New Delhi: India has raised concerns at the UN over attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, with its Permanent Representative to the UN Parvataneni Harish terming the targeting of civilian ships and crew members as “unacceptable” amid rising tensions in West Asia.Speaking at a special meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNESCO) on Friday, Harish warned that attacks on commercial shipping threaten global energy and supply chains, days after an attack on an India-flagged ship off the coast of Oman. The meeting focused on “Security of energy and supply flows: Supporting global development through international cooperation”.In a post on X on Sunday, Harish said he had shared India’s perspective on the recent energy and fertilizer crisis arising out of conflict in West Asia.“A combination of short-term and structural measures, along with international cooperation, is necessary to tackle the crisis,” he said.“Reiterating that targeting commercial shipping, endangering civilian crews and hindering freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is unacceptable. International law must be fully respected in this regard,” he said.The comments come after an India-flagged commercial ship coming from Somalia was attacked near Oman on May 13, amid growing instability in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s energy supply passes.Omani authorities rescued all 14 crew members on board. It was not immediately known who carried out the attack.The Foreign Ministry condemned the attack on Thursday, calling it “unacceptable” and expressed concern over repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the region.“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable and we condemn the fact that commercial shipping and civilian seafarers are being targeted,” an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said in a statement.“All Indian crew on board the ship are safe and we thank the Omani authorities for their rescue,” the statement said.At least two other Indian-flagged ships have come under attack since the conflict erupted in West Asia following the joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 and subsequent retaliatory strikes, according to officials.The latest developments have raised concerns over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global trade and energy corridor that has seen severe disruptions since the conflict escalated.