<p data-path-to-node="2">Escalating its diplomatic response to a severe maritime crisis in the Gulf, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has labeled the recurring military strikes on commercial vessels in West Asia as "deeply worrisome". The statement follows back-to-back incidents in the Gulf of Oman, which have resulted in the tragic deaths of three Indian sailors and triggered emergency evacuations for others.</p><p data-path-to-node="3">New Delhi has reiterated that the safety and well-being of the Indian seafaring community remain a top national priority. Officials are actively demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities against merchant shipping while pushing for open diplomatic dialogue.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="5"><b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="0">Evacuation and Rescue Status of MT Jalveer</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="6">The latest flashpoint involved the <i data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="35">MT Jalveer</i>, a Guinea-Bissau-flagged bitumen tanker carrying 20 Indian seafarers. The vessel was involved in a serious maritime security incident off the coast of Oman near Shinas Port, which led to a fire and heavy smoke in its engine room.</p><ul data-path-to-node="7"><li><p data-path-to-node="7,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="7,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Crew Safety Confirmed:</b> The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways confirmed that no casualties or injuries have been reported among the crew.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="7,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="7,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Evacuation Progress:</b> Coordinated rescue operations have commenced to safely transport all 20 Indian crew members to Shinas Port, with only a small remaining group left to stage out.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="7,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="7,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Multi-Agency Response:</b> The evacuation is being closely monitored through a joint effort linking the Ministry of Shipping, the MEA, Indian diplomatic missions abroad, and the Indian Navy.</p></li></ul><h3 data-path-to-node="9"><b data-path-to-node="9" data-index-in-node="0">Diplomatic Friction and Fatal Encounters</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="10">The incident with <i data-path-to-node="10" data-index-in-node="18">MT Jalveer</i> marks the third commercial ship carrying Indian crew members to be targeted within a narrow four-day window. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that these strikes were executed by the US military forces operating a blockade framework in the region.</p><p data-path-to-node="11">The escalation has caused intense diplomatic ripples. India has formally summoned the US Chargé d'Affaires, Jason Meeks, to lodge a strong, consecutive protest over the actions. New Delhi emphasized that despite the ships operating under foreign flags (such as Palau and Guinea-Bissau), the threat to innocent Indian civilian crew members is unacceptable.</p><p data-path-to-node="12">The dynamic follows the confirmed deaths of three Indian seafarers who lost their lives aboard the Palau-flagged tanker <i data-path-to-node="12" data-index-in-node="120">MT Settebello</i>. While 21 other Indian crew members from that vessel were successfully rescued, the MEA is fast-tracking efforts to repatriate the remains of the deceased back to India.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="14"><b data-path-to-node="14" data-index-in-node="0">The Complex Sanctions Backdrop</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="15">During the ministerial briefings, the MEA clarified that the targeted vessels were not Indian-owned but were navigating highly volatile international corridors. Investigations indicate that two of the involved tankers were flying under Palau flags, while <i data-path-to-node="15" data-index-in-node="255">MT Jalveer</i> operated under a Guinea-Bissau registry.</p><p data-path-to-node="16">Furthermore, trade compliance data revealed that two of the affected merchant ships were previously placed under strict regulatory sanctions by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), while another had been flagged in a non-compliant category regarding local trade blockades. India has urged all parties to respect international maritime laws and maintain unimpeded access through critical global bottlenecks like the Strait of Hormuz.</p>