India on Tuesday renewed its appeal to countries involved in the West Asia conflict to end hostilities and pursue dialogue and diplomacy, warning that the continuing violence has severely disrupted global energy, food and fertiliser supplies.
The appeal came hours after the US military carried out limited strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island, raising concerns about a fresh escalation in the region. US officials described the operation as defensive, saying it was intended to protect American assets after Iranian forces allegedly fired at a US aircraft. The strikes were not considered a resumption of major combat operations against Iran.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the conflict had already caused significant casualties and disrupted lives both within West Asia and beyond.
“The conflict has already taken a very heavy toll in terms of casualties and has been disrupting peoples’ lives, not just in the region but across the world. It has had a debilitating impact on global food, fuel, fertiliser and financial flows, and we urge the cessation of hostilities so that normalcy can be restored in the region,” Jaiswal said during a regular media briefing.
He added that New Delhi was closely monitoring developments and continued to call on all parties to pursue diplomatic engagement to restore peace and stability.
The conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February, has significantly affected India's fuel and fertiliser supplies. New Delhi is also concerned about the safety of more than 10 million Indians living in West Asia and approximately 18,000 Indian seafarers working on merchant vessels in the region.
India calls for protection of merchant shipping
India's concerns have been compounded by the deaths of 23 Indian nationals in the conflict, including 15 seafarers.
Jaiswal referred to the death of an Indian sailor aboard the Indian-flagged dhow MSV Al Jusufi, which was struck by an unidentified aerial object near Limah, off the coast of Oman, on Monday evening.
The vessel was carrying 14 Indian crew members when it came under attack. Oman's Coast Guard rescued 13 of them, while one seafarer, identified as Gandhar Nahim Ajij from Gujarat, succumbed to his injuries.
The external affairs ministry said the Indian Embassy in Muscat was coordinating with Omani authorities to facilitate the early repatriation of the rescued crew members and the mortal remains of the deceased sailor.
Jaiswal thanked the Omani authorities for their swift rescue efforts and reiterated India's demand that attacks on merchant vessels in the region must stop.
“We once again call upon parties that dialogue and diplomacy must be taken forward so that there can be an early return of peace to the region and that freedom of navigation through international waterways must be restored and must be guaranteed,” he said.
In a separate statement, the MEA expressed concern over repeated attacks on commercial shipping and called for immediate de-escalation and the conclusion of ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution. It stressed that targeting commercial vessels and civilian infrastructure must end and that free and unimpeded navigation through international waterways must be restored in accordance with international law.
India balances strategic and economic interests
India has sought to balance its growing economic and energy partnerships with West Asian countries, its expanding strategic relationship with Israel and its longstanding ties with Iran.
The conflict has placed these relationships under pressure while also creating economic and security challenges for New Delhi. Disruptions to fuel, fertiliser and other essential supplies have added to the concerns, while the presence of millions of Indian nationals across the region makes their safety a major priority.
The government has also been working to bring Indian nationals stranded or affected by the conflict back home. According to figures shared by the MEA, 4,330 Indian sailors have been brought back safely from the conflict-hit Persian Gulf. Eight Indian-flagged vessels were operating in the Persian Gulf, while two foreign-flagged ships carrying fertilisers were awaiting transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
India has also reported five deaths of its nationals in attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea region, with two others remaining missing.
New Delhi has consistently called for an end to military hostilities, the restoration of stability and the protection of civilian and commercial maritime movement. Jaiswal's latest remarks reiterated India's position that dialogue and diplomacy remain essential to preventing further escalation and restoring normalcy across the region.