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New Delhi: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday raised the deaths of three Indian mariners in a US Navy attack in the Gulf during a conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reiterating India’s strong protest against the incident and calling such actions against commercial shipping unjustified.

Sharing details of the conversation on X, Jaishankar said he had reiterated India’s objections to the incident and stressed that deadly actions against commercial shipping were unjustified.

Spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this evening. 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.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 12, 2026

“Spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this evening. 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,” Jaishankar said.

The diplomatic exchange comes amid growing tensions between New Delhi and Washington following the deaths of the Indian crew members in an attack on a commercial vessel earlier this week.

India has also summoned the Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy in New Delhi to formally register its protest over the incident.

According to reports, three vessels carrying Indian crew members came under attack off the coast of Oman. One of the attacks on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of three Indian mariners.

The ministry of external affairs has conveyed its concerns to the United States, underscoring the need to ensure the safety of commercial shipping in the Gulf region.

The incident comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions in West Asia. Earlier, US President Donald Trump accused Iran of carrying out drone attacks on Indian ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, calling such actions “totally unacceptable” and urging Tehran to stop them immediately.