External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed maritime security and energy security with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, the External Affairs Ministry said in a press briefing on Thursday.
The briefing was held after a series of attacks on commercial ships in the vital waterway of the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman, a key route for global oil trade.
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Jaiswal said the main points of discussion were to ensure safe movement of ships and maintain stable energy supply through the region.
“There have been three talks between the Iranian Foreign Minister and the Foreign Minister in the last few days. In the last meeting, issues related to security of shipping and energy security of India were discussed. Apart from that, it is too early for me to say anything,” he said.
The Ministry of External Affairs also confirmed today that around 9,000 Indian nationals, including students, seafarers, professionals, businessmen and pilgrims, are currently in Iran and being assisted amid security concerns in the country.
Jaiswal said that many of these people, especially students, have already left Iran and returned to India. Others, including students and pilgrims, present in Tehran have been evacuated to safer locations and cities within the country.
He said, “About 9,000 Indian nationals were or are present in Iran. These 9,000 Indian nationals include students, seafarers, businessmen, professionals and some pilgrims. Many Indian nationals, mostly students, have left the country and returned to their homes. We have shifted many Indian nationals present in Tehran, including students and pilgrims, to other safe places and cities in the country.”
“We are assisting Indian citizens who want to travel to Azerbaijan and Armenia and return home from there by commercial flights. We are providing assistance in visas and facilitating land border crossing,” Jaiswal said. He further informed that many Indians have approached the Mission for assistance in safely entering the neighboring countries and they have been successfully assisted in this.
The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson urged all Indian nationals wishing to exit Iran by land route to strictly follow the advisory issued by the Indian Embassy.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Iraq today confirmed a fatal maritime incident involving an international vessel, saying ‘US-owned crude oil tanker Sefsi Vishnu, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked off Basra, Iraq, with the loss of life of an Indian crew member.’
In a series of posts shared on It confirmed that “the remaining 15 Indian crew members have been evacuated to safety amid increasing instability in the regional waters”. The hostilities are part of a broader increase in regional violence following US-Israeli joint military operations that resulted in the death of Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
Turkey’s Anadolu Agency has released footage showing a “foreign oil tanker” completely engulfed in flames after a suspected Iranian attack near Umm Qasr port. India has expressed deep concern over the growing threat to its citizens and business interests. Earlier, the Indian-bound Thai ship Mayuri Nari was also attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, on which missiles were fired.
The Ministry of External Affairs issued a strong condemnation, saying, “India deeply regrets the targeting of commercial ships by military attacks in the ongoing conflict in West Asia.” The Ministry of External Affairs stressed that “many precious lives, including those of Indian civilians, have already been lost” and “the intensity and lethality of the attacks continues to increase.”
