United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Saturday that Washington would not accept any breaches of the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. This firm position came in response to protests raised by India following recent US military actions against oil tankers off the coast of Oman, which led to the death of three Indian crew members.

The situation escalated as India summoned the US Chargé d'Affaires, Jason Meeks, on two occasions this week. The initial summon was in response to an attack that targeted the Palau-flagged oil tanker, MT Settebello, resulting in the tragic deaths of the three Indian mariners. The subsequent summon was made after another merchant vessel, carrying a crew of 20 Indians, was also attacked in the same vicinity.

Following these developments, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had a phone conversation with Marco Rubio, where he expressed India's significant concerns regarding the loss of lives. In a statement released by the US Department of Justice, it was noted that during their discussion, Rubio emphasised the necessity for all commercial vessels to adhere to instructions from US forces, aimed at maintaining peace and security in the Strait.

The secretary further highlighted that violations of the US blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil would be met with strict opposition. Earlier, Jaishankar had also expressed India's condemnation on the social media platform X, stating, "I reiterated India’s strong protest at the attacks by the US Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners. Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified."

The unfolding situation has drawn international attention, especially given the statements from US President Donald Trump. He accused Iran of a failed drone assault against Indian ships departing the Hormuz Strait, labelling it as "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE" on the Truth Social platform.

Indian Congress MP Shashi Tharoor voiced his astonishment at the US's stance, criticizing the lack of any condolences or expressions of regret towards the loss of Indian lives. Tharoor remarked, "Deeply shocking to read this official US statement, which contains absolutely no expression of regret or condolence for the loss of innocent Indian lives. How can a friend and strategic partner be so deeply insensitive?" He further questioned the necessity of lethal force in stopping a non-compliant commercial vessel, suggesting that alternatives could have been employed to mitigate the threat without resorting to lethal measures.