Former diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar on Friday strongly condemned the killing of three Indian seafarers in an attack on the Palau-flagged vessel MT Settebello, calling the United States' actions "deplorable" and "unacceptable." The incident occurred off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz.
Lack of Remorse Criticized
Speaking to ANI, Sajjanhar criticized the lack of remorse shown by the US government. "I think this is quite deplorable, what has happened and it needs to be condemned in the strongest terms. You're very right, India has summoned the Charge d'Affaires, Jason Meeks, because unfortunately, again, we have not heard any remorse from the United States that they knew that all the crew, the seafarers, were Indians and there were other means available to them," he said.
Unarmed Vessel Targeted
Sajjanhar asserted that the US could have utilized other means to stop the ship, characterizing the military action against a defenceless vessel as "worse than a bully." He argued that the vessel, which was unarmed and had no links to Iranian ports, oil, or cargo, should not have been targeted. "I think this is totally unacceptable and it should not be allowed to be left only at summoning the Charge d'Affaires. We need to bring it home to the United States that this was not an enemy vessel," he added.
Call for Strong Diplomatic Action
The former diplomat urged the Indian government to take a strong stance, suggesting that India should mobilize international pressure to demand that the broader regional conflict be brought to an end. He noted that the ongoing conflict has significantly disrupted global trade and energy supplies, with the Gulf region serving as India's third-largest trading partner, involving approximately $200 billion in trade.
Skepticism on Peace Deal
While US President Donald Trump has recently suggested that a deal to end the conflict is forthcoming, Sajjanhar expressed cautious skepticism, likening the repeated claims to the "shepherd boy calling wolf." He noted that Iran seems determined to charge a toll on the Strait of Hormuz, adding to the complications.
"I do sincerely hope that it is true. But it's like a shepherd boy calling wolf, meaning we've heard it so often. Everyone is really looking for peace and an opening to the Strait of Hormuz because the whole world is suffering," he said.
International Impact
Sajjanhar highlighted that the conflict has severely affected India's external trade, including exports to the United Arab Emirates, India's second-largest export destination. He called for the international community to apply pressure to end the war, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution.
Meanwhile, despite Iranian officials maintaining that reports of a deal with the US remain "merely speculation," a memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington is expected to be signed in Geneva, Switzerland. The proposed agreement reportedly includes an extension of the ceasefire, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a framework for further talks on Iran's nuclear programme, as reported by CNN citing diplomatic sources.
