3 Indians hurt in Fujairah; PM calls for peace
New Delhi: After a sudden re-start of hostilities between the United States and Iran on Monday, and retaliatory attacks by Tehran that struck an oil refinery in Fujairah emirate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condemned the attacks on the UAE without naming or blaming Iran. He said, “Targeting civilians and infrastructure is unacceptable”, while pledging firm solidarity with close friend and strategic partner, the UAE.
In a separate statement, New Delhi called the attack on Fujairah “unacceptable” and called for cessation of hostilities. Three Indian nationals had been injured in the attacks on Fujairah.
PM Modi posted on X, “Strongly condemn the attacks on the UAE that resulted in injuries to three Indian nationals. Targeting civilians and infrastructure is unacceptable. India stands in firm solidarity with the UAE and reiterates its support for the peaceful resolution of all issues through dialogue and diplomacy. Ensuring safe and unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is vital for enduring regional peace, stability and global energy security.”
In its statement on Tuesday, the MEA said, “The attack on Fujairah that resulted in injury to three Indian nationals is unacceptable. We call for immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians. India continues to stand for dialogue and diplomacy to deal with the situation, so that peace and stability may be restored across West Asia. We also call for free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz in keeping with international law. India stands ready to support all efforts for a peaceful resolution of issues.”
The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi had late on Monday stated, “Three Indian nationals have been injured in today’s attacks in Fujairah. We are in touch with local authorities for ensuring adequate medical care and welfare of the affected Indian nationals.”
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According to international news reports, the UAE has accused Iran of attacking the country with a barrage of missiles and drones, setting an oil refinery ablaze in the eastern emirate of Fujairah and wounding three Indian nationals. As per these reports, the attacks on Monday mark the first on the UAE since Iran and the United States agreed to a ceasefire on April 8.
As per reports, the fragile ceasefire collapsed after US President Donald Trump said the US had struck seven Iranian "fast boats" in the Strait of Hormuz, as Washington sought to guide stranded ships out of the Gulf through the largely closed Hormuz Straits under what President Trump called “Project Freedom”. President Trump was quoted earlier as saying, “We've shot down seven small boats or, as they like to call them, 'fast' boats. It's all they have left.” The US military said it had used helicopters to attack the boats.
The UAE and South Korea both reported strikes on ships in the vital channel on Monday, as per the reports that added that a fire broke out at the UAE oil port of Fujairah after an Iranian retaliatory attack.
Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi was cited as saying that events in the strait “make clear that there's no military solution to a political crisis”, adding that “Project Freedom (of the US) is Project Deadlock”. Iranian state media later disputed Trump's announcement that the US had struck the speed boats. Citing a military source, the Tasnim news agency reported that two small cargo vessels had been hit instead, killing five civilians, as per reports.
