Indian ships safe in Persian Gulf, Modi discusses Hormuz transit with Kuwait

New Delhi: All Indian ships and sailors present across the entire Persian Gulf region—including Iran's Strait of Hormuz—are completely safe. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on Wednesday with the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, regarding the situation in the war-torn Gulf region and the safe movement of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Union Ministry of Shipping has stated that all Indian-flagged vessels and sailors present in the Persian Gulf—including the Strait of Hormuz—are entirely safe. Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, provided this information.

All Indian Ships in the Persian Gulf Safe

According to Rajesh Kumar Sinha: "Indian-flagged vessels and sailors are all safe, and no maritime incidents have been reported in the Gulf region over the past 24 hours. Currently, there has been no change in the status of the 22 vessels present in the Persian Gulf, west of Hormuz. These vessels carry 611 Indian sailors on board, all of whom are safe."

16 Indian Sailors Return in 24 Hours

He further added: "Over the past 24 hours, 16 Indian sailors have returned to India following the completion of their sign-off procedures. This repatriation process was successfully coordinated with Indian diplomatic missions at various airports."

Attacks on Kuwait's Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity Condemned

Separately, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared detailed information on Wednesday regarding the conversation held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. He stated, "Prime Minister Modi, on behalf of India, condemned the attacks on Kuwait's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Emphasis on Safe and Free Navigation through the Strait of Hormuz

He added, "Both leaders shared their concerns regarding the evolving situation in West Asia. PM Modi also emphasized that ensuring safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz remains our utmost priority. The Prime Minister also thanked the Crown Prince for his continued support regarding the safety and welfare of the Indian community in Kuwait."

Impact of the Ongoing Crisis in the Persian Gulf on India

• Addressing the ongoing crisis in the Persian Gulf, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, shared several key insights on Thursday:
• "Any factor that impacts supplies from the Middle East inevitably affects us.
• We are actively seeking to procure cargo from alternative sources.
• We have already diversified our sources for crude oil. Approximately 70% of our crude oil currently originates from regions outside the immediate vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz.
• We are also sourcing a portion of our LPG requirements from the United States.
• While Qatar is undoubtedly our largest supplier of LNG, there are other suppliers as well—such as the United States and Australia. In fact, regarding LNG, there are several other major suppliers available.
• There is certainly pressure; however, prices are not expected to rise in the immediate future."