India has strongly urged the restoration of unimpeded freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil artery connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, expressed deep concern over the targeting of commercial shipping during the West Asia conflict, which has resulted in the loss of precious lives of Indian seafarers.
The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has led to a near-halt in ship transits, with activity falling to just six in March from around 130 per day in February, a collapse of about 95%.
The UN has warned that the disruption is hitting a large share of global oil and gas supplies, with immediate consequences for production, trade, and consumption worldwide.
India has called for respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, promotion of dialogue and diplomacy, and de-escalation of tensions in the region.
