Rubio Stresses Hormuz Compliance in Call With India’s Jaishankar

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke Friday with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and stressed that commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz must immediately comply with U.S. forces, the State Department said.

A readout attributed to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the two officials discussed recent events in the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio also underscored that violations of the U.S. blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil would not be tolerated.

Violations of the U.S. blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated. — Secretary of State Marco Rubio

The call came the same day India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks over what New Delhi called continuing U.S. naval attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian mariners in the Gulf of Oman.

India’s ministry called the deaths of three Indian sailors tragic and avoidable. It lodged a formal protest with Meeks and called on Washington to ensure U.S. forces prevent further civilian deaths. The ministry said such actions are unacceptable and “undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce.”

Reuters reported that all three sailors, who went missing after a U.S. attack on a Palau-flagged ship off the Oman coast, have been confirmed dead.

What CENTCOM Said

U.S. Central Command said Thursday it attacked the oil tanker MT Settebello after the vessel tried to violate the U.S. blockade near the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said U.S. aircraft disabled the Palau-flagged M/T Marivex on Monday and the Settebello on Tuesday.

CENTCOM alleged the Marivex violated the blockade by attempting to sail to an Iranian port, while the Settebello “attempted to transport Iranian oil.”