US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a stern warning that any violation of the American blockade and illicit transport of Iranian oil through the Straits of Hormuz will not be tolerated. According to an official statement from the State Department, Rubio conveyed this message to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during their conversation on Friday. The warning comes as tensions escalate over shipping operations in the strategically important waterway, with the latest actions resulting in significant casualties among Indian nationals. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott emphasized that Rubio stressed all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from US forces as they seek to uphold peace and security in the Strait. In his latest defense of the blockade, Rubio reiterated that violations of the US-led blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil wouldn't be tolerated, as reported by the US Department of State on Saturday.
The enforcement actions have resulted in tragic losses among Indian nationals. Three separate merchant vessels carrying Indian crew members came under attack from US forces this week, with the latest incident on Wednesday involving the Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker Jalveer, carrying 20 Indian crew members. As reported by the State Department, these lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified according to Indian officials. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar strongly protested these deaths during his conversation with Rubio, with the Ministry of External Affairs describing the use of lethal force against civilian shipping as unacceptable. The latest casualty figures show three Indian seafarers died in Wednesday's attack, bringing the total civilian deaths to 10 Indian nationals across the three incidents.
The US military is currently disabling commercial tankers attempting to bypass a naval blockade of Iranian oil ports. In the latest incident, an F/A-18 Super Hornet struck the engine room of a Palau-flagged tanker, leading to fatalities and fires. While the US claims these vessels were part of a sanctioned "shadow fleet" that ignored direct orders to stop, New Delhi has condemned the "deeply unfortunate" deaths of its citizens. The military operations represent a clear escalation in enforcement measures targeting shipping operations in the region.
The incident has prompted strong diplomatic engagement between the US and India. Jaishankar posted on social media platform X stating that such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified. The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday summoned US charge d'affaires Jason Meeks and conveyed what it called deep concern over continuing attacks by American naval forces on commercial vessels carrying Indian mariners in the Gulf of Oman. The ministry said a strong protest had been lodged regarding attacks that had already resulted in the tragic and avoidable loss of three Indian lives and warned that such actions undermined the safety and stability of international maritime commerce in a sensitive region. In his latest response, Jaishankar said he conveyed India's concerns directly to Rubio and reiterated New Delhi's strong objection to the attacks.
Tensions are expected to rise as India places its shipping ministry on high alert to safeguard thousands of mariners working in the volatile region. The escalating military operations and civilian casualties have prompted New Delhi to take proactive measures to protect its maritime workforce. The ministry's heightened alert status reflects the growing concerns over the safety of Indian nationals operating in the Gulf of Oman amid the ongoing US naval blockade enforcement operations. The diplomatic exchange comes ahead of a planned meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Wednesday on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, where regional security and maritime trade routes are expected to be among the topics of discussion.
