NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs (MEA) summoned the US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks for the 2nd time in a week to lodge a protest against repeated attacks on commercial ships off the Oman coast with Indians on board.This comes a day after Guinea-Bissau-flagged oil tanker MT Jalveer, carrying 20 Indian seafarers, in the Gulf of Oman, was attacked by the US Navy, claiming that the ship had violated the US blockade against Iran in the region.MEA had called for an end to such attacks and “unimpeded and safe navigation” through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law amid the ongoing crises in the Middle East. “We have stated our position in the Strait of Hormuz. We would like, we want, and we have urged that there be unimpeded and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, keeping with international law. So that is our position. This is a topic which will come up for discussion, and we’ll put our points across,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said.Three commercial ships, including Palau-flagged vessels MT Marivex and MT Settebello, have been disbaled by the US navy within a week, which has led to the death of three Indians.
