00:06West Asia is back in focus. The Ministry of External Affairs has put out a statement with
00:10regard to the Indian seafarer who's been killed. Remember the UAE tankers that were, that faced
00:16Iranian strikes and around the street of Hormuz. We are told, MEA spokesperson has said, I quote
00:21him here, India summoned the Iranian debris chief of mission today to lodge protests in
00:26the recent attack on the cargo vessels. One Indian national lost his life, two Indian nationals
00:30are seriously injured. We urge these attacks targeting international cargoes need to be
00:34stopped with immediate effect. India supports the idea of freedom of navigation and unimpended
00:39at safe passage of international shipping through the sea lanes of communication. We are of the
00:43view that this is important for the economic safety of all nations. So that is what the
00:49MEA latest statement is that has come in. Remember that the Emirati tankers that were
00:56targeted, what is believed to be Iranian strikes, has led to the loss of life of crew members.
01:01One of them is an Indian and that is why the External Affairs Ministry has put out a spokesperson
01:06statement also. We are going to play out what spokesperson Randi Jaiswal has said, but very
01:12categorically stating that targeting international cargoes that in no way are directly involved
01:19with the confrontation or the war and that has to immediately be stopped. We urge these attacks
01:25targeting international cargoes need to be stopped with immediate effect. One Indian national
01:28has lost his life, two Indian nationals are seriously injured. India supports the idea of
01:33freedom of navigation and unimpended and safe passage of international shipping through the
01:37sea lanes of communication. Let's listen in to the spokesperson.
01:44We are closely following the developments that are happening in West Asia. We continue to call
01:50for safe and unimpeded navigation and flow of commerce through the street of Hormuz. This
01:57is key for ensuring economic and energy security of people across the world.
02:03I'm going to bring in India today's global editor, Afarana Affairs editor, Geeta Mohan,
02:08for the latest on that. Geeta, this again is bringing into focus, even though India is not
02:13directly involved, but how Indian seafarers are at risk. How do we look at the statement from India
02:17and what do you pick up? Is the situation on the ground there around the street of Hormuz? If this
02:23was an international cargo vessel, why was it targeted?
02:26Well, the fact is that this is not a normal state right now. It's a war zone. It's a conflict
02:33zone. And each
02:34country has taken a position for India. So therefore, yes, India is concerned. The diplomat from the
02:41Iranian embassy, the deputy chief of mission, was summoned for India to launch a very strong protest against
02:48what has happened, which has led to the loss of life of one Indian seafarer. And some others are very
02:54severely injured and a few others injured as well. So given the situation on the ground is the reason
03:01why protest has been lodged. And India says it's monitoring developments very, very closely. But the
03:07fact is that over here, Iran's position is that the strait for now is shut. And any ship that moves
03:15past,
03:16the strait will have to see clearances from the Iranian authorities. Now, we are still here to learn all
03:22this. And we still require clarity as to why were ships moving from the strait at a time when there
03:29was already a threat issued and a warning issued. Having said that, for Iran to take such an extreme
03:35measure also with countries that are friendly, that Iran has close relations with is a worrisome
03:44development. So yes, we're talking about a conflict zone right now. And it is only escalating with
03:49President Donald Trump saying that they are going to take over the strait of hormones. So in all
03:55probability, we're looking at reinstatement of the naval blockade on the one hand and the strait
04:01of hormones being shut on the other by Iran.
04:03joining us Geetha Mohan with all the latest on that.
