LPG tanker with 28 Indians aboard attacked in Iran waters, all crew safe

A Mozambique-flagged LPG tanker was reportedly attacked in Iranian waters. The vessel had 28 Indians on board, all of whom are safe, according to a statement by the Embassy of India in Tehran that was shared by news agency ANI on Friday night.According to the release, the attack took place earlier today and that the Embassy has been in close contact with the relevant authorities.The development comes at a time when the safety of Indian seafarers remains a concern, with several deaths reported since the beginning of the US-Iran war a few months back. “The embassy continues to monitor the situation closely and remains in touch with the concerned authorities,” the release shared by ANI read.What the embassy saidAs per ANI, the tanker involved is the LPG vessel DISHA (IMO No. 8818219). The Embassy's statement read, “The vessel has 28 Indian crew members on board. The Embassy has been in close contact with the relevant authorities and has confirmed that all Indian crew members are safe.” The statement did not share details about the nature of the attack or the condition of the ship.Also Read: Trump warns China and Russia: 'Arm Iran and it will be very bad for you'Jaishankar's statement on attacks on seafarersThe update comes a day after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, “Under no circumstances can attacks on seafarers, civilian shipping or infrastructure be countenanced.”Speaking at the 21st East Asia Summit in the Philippines, as per ANI, he said deliberate strikes on maritime crew members, non-military vessels, and key infrastructure are completely unacceptable. He added, “India stresses that international waterways must remain safe and unimpeded, fully in consonance with international law.”Amid the rising attacks on merchant ships and the tense security situation in the Gulf, India's Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) said, “The safety, security and welfare of Indian seafarers, and the security of Indian ships, remain central to the mandate of the Directorate General of Maritime Administration.”Also Read: How many Indian seafarers have been killed since US-Iran war began? A timelineRising toll among Indian seafarersAt least 15 seafarers, many of them Indians, have died in attacks on merchant vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28.The toll rose after the UAE confirmed another sailor died in an Iranian attack on an oil tanker in mid July, per AP.Earlier attacks include the March 1 strikes on tankers MKD Vyom and Skylight, which killed three Indian sailors combined; a fire on a dhow on May 8 that killed one Indian sailor; the June 9 US strike on tanker MT Settebello that killed three Indian crew members; and the July 12 attack on GFS Galaxy, in which one Indian sailor went missing. On July 14, one Indian sailor died and six were injured when Iranian missiles hit two UAE tankers.