Soon after summoning of Iran’s Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) lodging a protest against killings of Indian seafarers, the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that it is paramount to main safety of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
While addressing hir weekly presser on Tuesday the 14th of July 2026, the Official Spokesperson of MEA Randhir Jaiswal said that it is closely following the developments in West Asia and has again called for safe and unimpeded navigation and the flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.
Jaiswal said, New Delhi conveyed Tehran its deepest concerns and that it strongly condemned what has happened.
He said, a precious Indian life has been lost and several Indian nationals have been injured.
A couple of them are seriously injured.
The MEA Spokesperson said, India conveyed its strongest protest to the Iranian side on this matter, stating that these attacks must stop at the earliest.
At the same time, there should be de-escalation, and the two sides should come to the negotiating table and take the path of dialogue and diplomacy so that peace and stability can be ensured in West Asia.
On the indictment of Lawrence Bishnoi Gang, the spokesperson said India has consistently maintained that transnational organised crime, terrorism, narco-trafficking, human trafficking, illegal firearms trafficking and related criminal networks pose a serious threat to societies.
Randhir Jaiswal added that India and the United States enjoy strong and growing cooperation in combating terrorism as well as transnational organised crime.
He said India and US agencies have worked closely together over the years, and this cooperation continues to deepen.
On Passport vs citizenship issue Jaiswal said an Indian passport is a document that is issued by the Government to regulate the departure from India of citizens of India, as per the Passports Act, 1967.
It is issued after due verification laid out by an established process. The spokesperson added that the issue of passports to Indian citizens or any other individual is governed by the Passports Act and Passports Rules, 1980.
He informed that currently, less than 8 percent of Indian citizens hold a passport.
On Nijjar issue in Canada, Randhir Jaiswal said, the MEA has noted the remarks made by Royal Canadian Mounted Police RCMP Deputy Commissioner while adding that these remarks are consistent with the recently unsealed US indictment which attributes responsibility to the members of the Lawrence Bishnoi organised crime group. India remains committed to working with its partners in combating terrorism and transnational organised crime through close law enforcement and security cooperation.
