New Delhi: India on Wednesday voiced deep concern over the escalating tensions in West Asia following fresh attacks on commercial shipping in international waters, urging all parties to exercise restraint, protect civilians and return to dialogue to prevent further instability in the region.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the recent attacks on commercial vessels transiting key international waterways posed a serious threat to regional peace, security and stability.
"India is deeply concerned over the recent attacks and escalation of tensions in West Asia, which have followed fresh targeting of commercial shipping transiting international waterways in the region. These developments risk undermining regional peace, security and stability," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
India called on all sides to de-escalate tensions while ensuring the uninterrupted flow of energy supplies and international trade.
"India calls upon all parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and ensure protection of civilians as well as the uninterrupted flow of energy supplies and commerce. We urge the parties to return to dialogue and diplomacy to achieve a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict," the statement added.
The appeal came as global crude oil prices surged by more than six per cent after US President Donald Trump declared that the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran was effectively over following a fresh round of US military strikes on Iran, heightening concerns over oil supplies from West Asia.
The renewed tensions followed a series of attacks on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes.
International benchmark Brent crude rose as much as 6.52 per cent, or $4.69, to trade near $80 per barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained more than six per cent, or $4.85, to around $75 per barrel.
Speaking during separate engagements with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump defended the latest US military strikes on Iranian targets and accused Tehran of violating a pause that had been requested to allow funeral ceremonies.
He suggested that the existing diplomatic process had effectively broken down and questioned the value of continuing negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme, while leaving open the possibility of further diplomatic engagement through US envoys.
Trump claimed Iran resumed hostile actions after the United States had temporarily suspended military operations.
According to Trump, Iran requested that the US halt attacks during funeral ceremonies, a request Washington honoured before Tehran allegedly resumed firing rockets at ships.
He warned that the United States was prepared to launch further military strikes if Iran continued its attacks, saying every Iranian strike would be met with a much stronger American response.
Trump also disclosed that he had instructed the US military to widen the scope of its latest operation by targeting facilities on Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal, while avoiding oil pipelines.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said American forces had targeted Iranian military assets involved in attacks threatening commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
With IANS inputs