India urges de-escalation as Strait of Hormuz blockade disrupts shipping

New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Thursday urged a return to diplomacy to resolve the ongoing crisis in West Asia.

He represented India at a UK-hosted virtual meeting of over 60 nations, which focused on ensuring the safety and security of global shipping routes through the volatile Strait of Hormuz

The meeting was held amid Iran's partial blockade of the strategic waterway, which has severely disrupted global oil and gas supplies.

Misri articulated India’s position on protecting international shipping lanes in the region, amid Iran’s partial blockade of the strategic waterway that has caused severe disruptions to global oil and gas supplies.

It said Misri emphasised the impact of the crisis on India's energy security and the fact that it remains the "only country to have lost mariners in attacks on merchant shipping in the Gulf".

"He also underlined that the way out of the crisis consisted of de-escalation and a return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue among all concerned parties," the MEA said in a brief statement.

Earlier in the day, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing said that as far as India is concerned, "you very well know that we stand for free and open commercial shipping, and for maritime security in keeping with international law."

"We continue to call for ensuring safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of priority," he said.

Jaiswal said the UK invited several countries, including India, for talks on the Strait of Hormuz and Misri attended it.

"We are in touch with Iran and other countries to see how best we can get unimpeded and safe transit for our ships which are carrying products including LPG and LNG," Jaiswal said.