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India on Thursday said that 11 of its ships have exited the Strait of Hormuz, while 13 vessels remain in the Persian Gulf, as authorities continue efforts to ensure their safe passage.

 

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the movement was the result of sustained diplomatic engagement with Iran.

 

“We have had forward movement as a result of our diplomatic engagement and conversations with the Iranians. So far, 11 Indian ships have exited the Strait of Hormuz. 13 ships continue to be in the Persian Gulf, and we continue to be in touch with the Iranian authorities so that the remaining ships can also cross the Strait of Hormuz and reach their destination in India,” he said at a press briefing.

 

Responding to reports that Iranian vessels might be using alternate routes, including through Indian territorial waters, to avoid potential blockades, Jaiswal clarified the procedural position.

 

“Regarding the reports that Iranian ships might be taking routes through Indian territorial waters to avoid blockades: if ships of other countries want to ply in international waters, no permission is required. However, for the specific question of entering Indian waters, that is a technical issue that the Ministry of Shipping or the relevant technical authorities would need to answer,” he said.

 

 

Earlier, officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said all Indian seafarers in the region remain safe, with no incidents reported involving Indian-flagged vessels in the past 48 hours.

 

Director of Shipping Opesh Kumar Sharma said the government has facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 2,999 seafarers, including 23 in the last two days.

 

“The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions, and maritime stakeholders to ensure seafarer welfare and uninterrupted maritime operations. I am happy to state that all Indian seafarers continue to be safe in the region, and no incident involving an Indian-flagged vessel has been reported since the last briefing in the past 48 hours. No incident has also been reported on any foreign-flagged vessels carrying Indian seafarers,” he said.

 

The government said it remains in close contact with relevant authorities to ensure the safety of vessels and crew amid evolving developments in the region.