India has expressed deep concern over blockades in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The concerns were raised following attacks by the Houthis on Saudi cities and a ship incident involving Indian seafarers. The Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stated that such attacks undermine regional stability and threaten freedom of navigation through the straits. The ship incident occurred off the Omani coast, where a Panamanian oil tanker, the El Gaia, was hit, resulting in the rescue of 13 Indian seafarers out of 14 onboard. The U.S. military has claimed the ship was targeted by an Iranian missile last month and a drone over the weekend, though no official confirmation has been provided by Iran.

The developments were discussed during a meeting between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Delhi. Over 2.4 million Indians live and work in Saudi Arabia, where several cities are on alert due to Houthi attacks. Saudi forces have conducted missile strikes on Yemen in retaliation. The Ministry condemned the attacks on Saudi sovereign territory, including civilian infrastructure and economic assets, calling them unacceptable. However, it noted that oil supplies from the region have not been affected so far.

The incident occurred during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Delhi for the BRICS Summit. During talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the need for safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce, and the safety of seafarers, was highlighted. However, the readout of the meeting did not include any assurances from the Iranian President regarding safe passage for Indian ships and seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry spokesperson did not provide further details on the outcome of these discussions.

The spokesperson also addressed comments from Beijing regarding Modi's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that the two leaders reached an 'important consensus,' with Modi reportedly saying India would not allow 'any force to engage in anti-China activities on its territory.' The Ministry spokesperson said New Delhi had 'seen' Wang's comments but emphasized that Modi's reference was to sensitivity for both Delhi and Beijing's concerns, guided by mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity.

The situation remains unresolved, with no clear response from Iran on the ship incident or the blockades in the straits. The Ministry has urged the restoration of free and safe navigation and commerce through international waterways in the region. The Omani authorities are assisting in search operations for a missing Indian seafarer, but the full details of the incident and its implications for regional security remain unclear. Further developments are expected as the situation continues to unfold.