This handout photograph taken on March 11, 2026, and launched by the Royal Thai Navy reveals smoke rising from the Thai bulk service ‘Mayuree Naree’ close to the Strait of Hormuz after an assault.
| Photograph Credit score: AFP
The Exterior Affairs Ministry on Thursday (March 12, 2026) mentioned it’s reasonably “untimely” to debate stories about India receiving permission for ships to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
West Asia struggle: Comply with LIVE updates, highlights on March 12, 2026
“Exterior Affairs Minister and Overseas Minister of Iran have had three conversations in the previous few days. The final one mentioned points pertaining to security of transport and India’s power safety. Past that, it might be untimely for me to say something,” mentioned Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry.
As oil tankers and cargo ships had been attacked by suicide boats, drones and missiles, Exterior Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke together with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday (March 10, 2026).
“Iran’s Overseas Minister reminded that the insecure scenario and issues arising for transport within the Persian Gulf are a results of the aggressive and destabilizing actions of the US, and the worldwide neighborhood should maintain the U.S. accountable for this example,” the Iranian Overseas Ministry had mentioned after a name.
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Cargo ships continued to be focused within the strait whilst India and Iran remained linked on the ministerial stage. A Thai-flagged ship, Mayuree Naree, was hit close to the Iraqi port of Basra on Wednesday that led to the dying of 1 Indian sailor. The ship was headed for Kandla port in Gujarat.
Following the incident, the Exterior Affairs Ministry mentioned, “India deplores the truth that business transport is being made a goal of navy assaults within the ongoing battle in West Asia. Treasured lives, together with of Indian residents, have already been misplaced in a number of such assaults within the earlier part of this battle and the depth and lethality of the assaults solely appears to be rising.”
India has been expressing concern concerning the focusing on of service provider navy ships which can be caught each contained in the Gulf in addition to within the Gulf of Oman close to the Strait of Hormuz. Authorities sources have been sustaining that Indian sailors make for numerous sailors in such ships and Iran’s assaults endanger their lives.
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Already, at the very least 4 Indian sailors have been killed in assaults for the reason that starting of the struggle on February 28. The primary ship that was hit was MT Sky Gentle, adopted by hits on MT Vyom (off the coast of Oman) and LCT ALYH. Other than that, at the very least 20 different Indian sailors have been injured in a number of assaults on ships, sources have mentioned.
Whereas the injured sailors are receiving remedy in Oman, the households of the useless sailors are going through uncertainty. Relations of Ashish Kumar, the captain of MT Sky Gentle who was identified to have died within the assault, have refused to imagine within the authorities’s findings.
Talking to The Hindu, they’ve sought additional affirmation within the type of DNA checks from the bodily stays in Oman earlier than accepting the information of his dying. Sources have mentioned that DNA take a look at outcomes shall be shared after Oman completes sure authorized procedures which can be taking time due to the uncertainty because of the battle.
Printed – March 12, 2026 10:54 pm IST
