MEA clarifies on reports of oil tanker 'transiting through Hormuz' after EAM's talks with Iran's Araghchi
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says India is working to ensure the safety of its 9,000 nationals in Iran, assisting several students and others to return home through embassy support.
Ministry of External Affairs said Thursday said that EAM S Jaishankar had three telephonic conversations with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, during the ongoing Israel-US-Iran conflict.
The ministry said that in the third conversation between the two leaders on Tuesday, they discussed issues pertaining to the safety of shipping and India's energy security.
“External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Minister of Iran have had three conversations in recent days. The last one discussed issues pertaining to the safety of shipping and India's energy security. Beyond that, it would be premature for me to say anything,” PTI quoted Jaiswal as saying.
PTI said that it was after the talks that the movement of Indian oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz was stabilised.
However, when asked about the movement of one India-flagged oil tanker, MEA during a weekly press briefing on Friday – said that the ‘vessel was on the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz and therefore did not need to cross the Strait.’ It also said that the tanker was headed to Africa.
To date, as many as 19 ships have been hit by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, with some seven persons killed in the attacks, according to a report by Hindustan Times. Even though two Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) tankers, Pushpak and Piramal, managed to cross the Strait of Hormuz without escort between last night and Thursday morning. Iranian projectiles struck three other tankers, causing damage.
Israel-US-Iran conflict
Iran launched a wave of retaliatory attacks after Israel and the US jointly attacked the Islamic Republic on Saturday, 28 February. Explosions were reported across Gulf cities, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and other key West Asian hubs, which are home to US military bases.
Israel-US-Iran conflict – which is now in its second week – also caused massive disruptions in flight operations to and from Gulf nations, stranding thousands of travellers across the globe.
‘9,000 Indian nationals in Iran…’
On Thursday, Jaiswal also said that India is working to ensure the safety of its 9,000 nationals in Iran, with several students and others returning home through embassy assistance.
"We've had some 9,000 Indian nationals who were there or who are there in Iran. These 9,000 Indian nationals comprise students. They also comprise seafarers, some business people, some professionals, and some pilgrims. Of these 9,000, you would have seen that we had issued an advisory some time back. Our mission issued an advisory following those advisories, which were issued on the 14th of January, if I'm not wrong, and 23rd of February, several Indian nationals, mostly students, a lot of students, left the country and reached home," said the MEA spokesperson.
He also said that the Indian Embassy in Tehran is facilitating the safe movement of nationals who wish to leave the country. This includes helping them reach Armenia and Azerbaijan via land borders, where they can access flights to return to India.
(With inputs from agencies)