India, June 11 -- India has strongly condemned the recent attack on a merchant vessel off the coast of Oman that resulted in the deaths of three Indian seafarers and has lodged a formal protest with the United States over the continuing attacks on shipping in the region.

Addressing an inter-ministerial media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government summoned the US Charge d'Affaires to register a strong protest over the incident. He described the repeated attacks on commercial shipping as deeply concerning and linked them to the ongoing regional conflict.

Jaiswal stressed the need for immediate de-escalation and called for dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace and stability in...