India Calls on US to Halt Maritime Strikes After Deadly Attacks on Indian-Crewed Tankers

June 12, 2026

Mintesinot Nigussie

India has urged the United States to halt strikes on shipping in the Gulf region following a series of attacks this week on Indian-crewed tankers, including one incident that killed three sailors.

Speaking on Thursday, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was “deeply concerned” by the escalation and called for an immediate end to the attacks. “These attacks must cease and end,” he told reporters, adding that India was also urging dialogue and diplomacy to restore “peace and stability in the region.”

The remarks followed three reported US strikes on vessels carrying Indian crew members this week. One of the attacks, according to Indian officials, resulted in the deaths of three sailors aboard the tanker Settebello off the coast of Oman.

Jaiswal said the incident prompted New Delhi to summon the US chargé d’affaires in the capital on Wednesday to convey its “deepest concerns” over the ongoing strikes.

The deaths mark the first reported fatalities since a US blockade on Iran-linked shipping began on April 13. Since then, US forces have reportedly disabled eight ships and turned back more than 100 others as part of an intensified maritime enforcement campaign targeting Iran-linked cargo routes.