US secretary of state Marco Rubio told external affairs minister S Jaishankar that all commercial vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz must comply immediately with orders issued by US forces.
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According to a US state department readout of the conversation, Rubio spoke with Jaishankar on Saturday and discussed recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz, which has become a flashpoint amid the ongoing US-Iran confrontation.
"Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke yesterday with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The two officials discussed recent events in the Strait of Hormuz. The Secretary stressed that all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from US forces as they seek to uphold peace and security in the Strait. He underscored that violations of the US blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated," the statment said.
The call came after India lodged a strong protest over a series of incidents involving commercial vessels carrying Indian crew members in the Gulf of Oman. Three ships with Indian sailors on board have come under attack off the Oman coast within a week, with one incident resulting in the deaths of three Indian seafarers.
Also read: Jaishankar lodges 'strong protest' with Rubio
Following his conversation with Rubio, Jaishankar said India had conveyed its concerns directly to Washington. “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,” he wrote on X.
