India, March 20 -- Amid a spike in oil prices, a global energy crisis and the ongoing Iran-US war sparking tensions in the Middle East, India has condemned the targeting of commercial shipping in international waters, and called for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy.

Addressing 36th extraordinary session of the Council of the IMO in London, Indian envoy Vikram Doraiswamy emphasised freedom of navigation and the safety of all seafarers and expressed concern over the blockade of routes along the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway used to transport one-fifth of the world's oil.

The passage has been facing disruptions ever since the beginning of the ongoing Iran-US war, triggering a big spike in oil prices globally and raising conc...