India on Thursday, 11 June formally lodged a 'strong protest' with the United States after a series of attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian seafarers in West Asia, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) describing the incidents as 'deeply worrisome' and calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities at sea. The diplomatic escalation follows the deaths of three Indian nationals aboard the vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman.

India Summons US Charge d'Affaires

The US Charge d'Affaires (CDA) in New Delhi was summoned on Wednesday to receive India's formal objections. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing an inter-ministerial briefing in New Delhi, stated that India conveyed its 'deepest concerns' over the continuing attacks and demanded unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law.

'We had summoned the US CDA here to register a strong protest. The continuing incidents of attacks on shipping in the region are deeply worrisome and a direct result of the ongoing conflict in the region. These attacks must cease and end. We also call for dialogue and diplomacy so that we can have an early return to peace and stability in the region,' Jaiswal said.

Three Incidents in Days, Three Indians Dead

The attacks unfolded in rapid succession. The first incident involved MT Marivex on 8 June, when a fire broke out aboard the vessel — carrying 24 Indian seafarers — south of the Strait of Hormuz. The second and deadliest strike hit the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman on Wednesday, killing three of the 24 Indian crew members aboard; 21 were rescued. A third incident was reported on Thursday near Oman's Shinas port, confirmed by the Indian Embassy in Oman.

Jaiswal confirmed that all three vessels are foreign-flagged — two are Palau-flagged and one is Guinea-flagged — and none are Indian-owned. He noted that two of the ships are reportedly on the OFAC sanctions list, and one is classified as a non-compliant vessel.

What India Has Demanded

India's position, as articulated by Jaiswal, rests on three pillars: an immediate end to attacks on shipping in the region; the pursuit of dialogue and diplomacy as the path to conflict resolution; and guaranteed freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz under international law. The MEA also underscored India's large seafaring community in the Persian Gulf region and confirmed that the Ministry of Shipping and Indian embassies are in active contact with seafarers to monitor their welfare.

Context: Indian Seafarers at Risk

India has one of the world's largest seafaring workforces, with a significant concentration in the Persian Gulf and broader West Asia corridor. This is not the first time Indian nationals have been caught in the crossfire of regional conflict at sea — but the loss of three lives within a single incident marks a sharp escalation in the direct human cost to India. This comes amid heightened maritime tensions in the region linked to the ongoing conflict, with commercial shipping lanes increasingly drawn into the theatre of hostilities.

The government has stopped short of publicly naming a specific actor responsible for the attacks beyond attributing them to the 'US Navy stationed there,' as stated by Jaiswal, though the broader context of regional conflict remains the framing used by officials. All eyes will now be on whether Washington responds to New Delhi's protest with concrete assurances or operational changes.