Jaishankar speaks to Marco Rubio, voices strong protest over death of Indian seafarers

NEW DELHI : External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S Jaishankar on Saturday said he spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to convey India’s strong protest overUS Navy attacks in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners.

He described such actions against commercial shipping as unjustified.

In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar said, “Spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this evening. I reiterated India’s strong protest at the attacks by the US Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners. Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified.”

His remark came after the death of three Indian sailors in a US military strike on a commercial tanker in the Gulf of Oman.

The vessel, MT Settebello, came under fire on Wednesday after US forces accused it of violating the ongoing naval blockade on Iranian ports. Of the 24 Indian crew members on board, 21 were rescued, while the three others were later confirmed deceased.