OPEN to US warships too? In the JCPOA Iran gave a firm commitment never to acquire nuclear weapons. This commitment was made not only to the US but the P5 plus Germany. And to the UN as the agreement was ratified by the Security Council. It thus became a commitment to the international community as a whole. Iran could have walked out of the NPT in recent years but hasn’t done so. The present deal puts the nuclear issue in the second phase of negotiation. For Trump the nuclear issue has been central to the war. It has been relegated to a secondary place , with the primacy given to opening of the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait was open before the US triggered its closure by attacking Iran. A totally botched up operation that has severely damaged peace and security in the Gulf and economically punished countries which had nothing to do this US/ Israel initiated war.

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? Why couldn’t a non-compliant commercial vessel have been stopped using other, non-lethal means? Is it not possible to disable a ship's propulsion or steering without firing missiles targeted to kill civilian crew members? Practically every merchant ship navigating these crucial waters has Indian crew on board. Are they all considered fair game for US missiles now? This approach is unacceptable and I hope @DrSJaishankar had said so to @marcorubio.

A very harsh response from Rubio. Implicitly justifying the killing of Indian mariners. The US is not upholding peace and security in the Strait. Iran may not be innocent but It is the US that is the cause of disturbing peace and security there by its initial attacks on Iran. India has to tolerate the killing of its mariners because the US will not tolerate the violation of its unilateral blockade. Not even a pro forma regret at the killing of civilian unarmed nationals of a friendly country. Rubio has raised the ante. He has snubbed us.

You are right.

Good that issue has been raised at Rubio’s level. Needed to be done to convey the lasting damage to ties such actions cause, which is not in our mutual interest. The US could have found a way to express regret . Rubio has apparently not echoed Trump’s accusation of Iran staging drone attacks on Indian ships. Odd that Trump should have mentioned this and not the professionals of Centcom..

Surprised at the mala fide comparison made by Salvatore Babones between India’s attack on Pakistan after the Pahalgam massacre to US attack on commercial vessels in international waters. He questioned the legality of India’s attack on terrorist hubs in Pakistan without UN approval to refute my argument that the US attack on commercial vessels in international waters that has resulted in the killing of three Indian nationals was against international law and that there no UN approval for enforcing the US blockade. Our action was directly in response to a heinous terrorist attack at Pahalgam sponsored by Pakistan as has done several times before by Pakistan: attack on our parliament, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Pathankot, Pulwama etc. India’s action was in self- defence in accordance with the UN Charter. India did not decapitate the Pakistani political and military leadership, bombed its nuclear facilities, schools, civilian and energy infrastructure, blockaded an international water way or attacked commercial vessels headed towards or out of Pakistan in international waters killing three US nationals. As a responsible country after it had delivered a strong anti-terrorism message in self- defence India also agreed to a ceasefire within four days to contain escalation.

Times Now Global Roundtable This blockade is illegal; what the U.S. is doing is illegal. Attacking commercial shipping in international waters is illegal...: @KanwalSibal tells @Zakka_Jacob

This was needed. Adequately phrased.

VIDEO | New York, USA: UN chief Antonio Guterres has condemned the attack on a Palau-flagged tanker off the coast of Oman in which three Indian seafarers have been killed, his spokesperson said. On Wednesday, the US struck another Palau-flagged tanker, MT Settebello, killing three out of the 24 Indian sailors on board. "...Notably, the Settebello tanker was hit and a number of Indian seafarers were killed. And that is an attack that was clearly condemned by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). And we fully support and second that language," Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, said at the daily press briefing Thursday. Dujarric was referring to a statement issued by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, in which he had expressed his “deep sadness” and “strong condemnation” of the attack on the tanker MT Settebello, sailing under the flag of Palau, off the coast of Oman. (Source: Third Party) (Full video available on PTI Videos - ptivideos.com)

Or a briefing note from an embassy?

Good, telling point.

Suddenly there are Indian voices for a defensive strategy towards Pakistan. In response to any India’s initiative to keep the dialogue open, which it will in any case read as weakness, Pakistan will raise the Kashmir issue and now the water issue with the abeyance of the IWT. How will India then proceed? Say no? Demand Pakistan abjure terrorism credibly? Back to the composite dialogue stalemate? Pakistan will deny any links with terrorism and accuse India of abetting terrorism in Baluchistan and now through Afghanistan. At Sharm el Sheikh Pakistan had raised the Baluchistan issue. They won’t back off. In the UN snd elsewhere Pakistan is already becoming aggressive on India’s involvement with terrorism, now that they are suffering at the hands of forces they themselves nurtured and unleashed. How will the rabid Hindu- hating Islamist Asim Munir who is basking under Trump’s admiration for him read India’s overtures? With maturity?

Good point.

Here is an apologia for the US responsibility for the killing of three Indian seamen. Our media should raise its voice against this tragedy and not treat is as a matter of secondary concern. And support the logic of US action instead. Our media should be a point pf pressure on the US and not defend its action at the cost of Indian lives. Whatever the sins of Iran, the US blockaded is illegal. Even if the transponders were shut off under whose legal authority the US has been mandated to militarily attack commercial shipping in international waters?

In genuine inter-country transactionalism(T*m) we look at the benefit-cost ratio of each transaction, for each country. I have not seen a single ve estimate for USA. Genuine liberals shouldn't dignify #Predatory #hegemony by naming it T*m!

How was US strengthening India as a power? Its approach was based on its own national interest and geopolitical calculations. Trump is alienating almost all countries, allies, partners and friends, India included. India’s multi alignment approach allows India to be transactional too. But we take a more long term view of ties and don’t look for power- induced instant gratification.

Fully agree. India's Navy is a partner of the US CENTCOM Combined Maritime Command, it hosts the United States as a partner in its International Fusion Centre for maritime security of commercial shipping. Of what use are these links when Indian lives are lost