The United Nations and India have called the targeting of commercial shipping during the conflict in West Asia regrettable and strongly urged the early restoration of unimpeded freedom of navigation and global commerce in the Strait of Hormuz.
“One aspect of India’s energy and economic security that is of particular concern concerns commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Harish Parvathanini, India’s permanent representative to the United Nations, told the UN General Assembly on Thursday.
“India regrets that commercial shipping has been targeted militarily during this conflict,” Parvatanini said.
India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crews or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce in the Strait of Hormuz is unacceptable.
Parvatanini stressed that international law in this regard must be fully respected, and India strongly urged the early restoration of security, unhindered navigation and global commercial freedom in the Strait of Hormuz.
He also expressed concern over the loss of precious lives of seafarers on Indian ships during the conflict.
Parvatanini was speaking at a UN General Assembly debate on the “situation in the Middle East” veto initiative, which took place after Russia and China vetoed a Bahrain-led UN Security Council resolution on reopening the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month.
The veto by two permanent members of the 15-nation Security Council triggered a debate on the issue in the United Nations General Assembly.
The Indian envoy said that since the conflict between Iran and the Gulf region broke out on February 28 this year, India has expressed deep concern about it and urged all countries to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritize the safety of civilians.
“We urge all countries to promote dialogue and diplomacy, reduce tensions and resolve underlying issues purposefully. We also call for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries,” he said.
Amid the conflict in West Asia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last month that eight Indian nationals had been killed and one missing in “various incidents” in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil artery between Oman and Iran linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, has been nearly closed due to the conflict, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people will not be able to breathe when this vital chokepoint is “strangled”.
The United Nations Trade and Development Organization has warned that activity in the Strait of Hormuz, a central artery for global energy trade, has come to a near standstill. Ship transits dropped from about 130 sailings per day in February to 6 sailings per day in March, a drop of about 95%.
“This disruption is affecting a significant portion of global oil and gas supplies, with direct consequences for global production, trade and consumption. It is also spreading to transport systems, including maritime routes, air cargo and port logistics,” UNCTAD said.
The U.N. agency warned that if the military escalation and destruction persisted, the suffering would extend far beyond the region, translating into widespread economic hardship. PTI YAS AMS
This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.
