'Firmly opposed to attacks on merchant shipping': India tells UNSC

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, strongly condemned attacks on merchant shipping during a UN Security Council debate on Middle East stability. He emphasized that many Indian nationals have died or gone missing due to conflicts in the region, including attacks on vessels and sea lanes critical to global trade. Parvathaneni urged restraint in the escalating Iran conflict, which began during Ramadan, and called for protecting civilians, commercial shipping, and regional stability. India’s concerns were heightened by recent incidents, including a U.S. strike on the commercial tanker *Settebello* off Oman, which left three of its 24 Indian crew members missing. This followed an earlier U.S. attack on a Palau-flagged vessel with 24 Indian crew attempting to evade an Iranian port blockade. India highlighted the vulnerability of its 10 million citizens working in the Gulf region, stressing that disruptions to trade and energy supply chains would severely impact its economy. The conflict’s spread has raised fears of broader instability, threatening global commerce and humanitarian access. New Delhi reiterated its support for diplomacy, freedom of navigation, and a ceasefire in Gaza to address humanitarian crises. It also pledged $2.5 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine, reaffirming its backing for a two-state solution. Parvathaneni warned that military actions targeting civilians and infrastructure risk deepening regional tensions and economic harm.