Jaishankar calls Araghchi, as maritime risks persist in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with his Iranian counterpart Syed Abbas Araghchi on Friday (July 31, 2026) and “strongly urged” him to end all
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with his Iranian counterpart Syed Abbas Araghchi on Friday (July 31, 2026) and “strongly urged” him to end all attacks on commercial vessels in the area near the Strait of Hormuz. This was Mr. Jaishankar’s second phone call on shipping attacks in twenty-four hours, as India continues to deal with increased maritime risks in both the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea and nearby areas. “Had a tele-conversation with FM Araghchi of Iran this evening.
Conveyed our deep concerns at the ongoing hostilities in the region. Strongly urged that attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers be avoided under any circumstance. India condemns any such attack by any party,” Mr. Jaishankar said, in a social media post. Caught in Russia-Ukraine conflict Earlier on Thursday (July 30, 2026), Mr. Jaishankar had called Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and condemned the recent spate of attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea and nearby areas by both Russian and Ukrainian forces, even as the region has emerged as a maritime front in the war.
Thursday’s phone call came days after the Ukraine military had hit the MV Omorfi, a merchant vessel in Russia’s territorial waters in the Black Sea, leaving an Indian sailor dead. On Friday (July 31, 2026), the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that two Indian sailors who have been untraceable since the commercial vessel MV AGN Ragnar came under attack while leaving the Ukrainian port of Odesa on July 25 continue to remain ‘missing’. The vessel had four Indian seafarers on board.
“We are in constant touch with the authorities both in Ukraine and Romania. Both have conducted search and rescue operations. We are also in touch with the family members of the missing Indian nationals and offering all possible help,” Mr. Jaiswal said during his regular press briefing on Friday (July 31, 2026).
The BriefWire