The Thai government condemned the attack on a Thai cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz and summoned the Iranian ambassador to demand an apology.
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday that it had asked the Iranian ambassador about the details of the incident and expressed deep concern over the situation in the Middle East.
The statement said that ongoing conflicts could further intensify tensions in the Middle East and even broader regions, posing a serious threat to the safety of innocent civilians. Thailand urges all parties to respect international law, exercise maximum restraint, and immediately ease tensions.
A Thai-flagged bulk carrier was hit by Iranian shells in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday (11th). Of the 23 Thai crew members onboard, 20 abandoned ship and boarded lifeboats, and were rescued by the Omani navy. Three others are missing and are believed to be trapped in the ship's cabin, which caught fire after the attack. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed that they had fired on the Thai cargo ship.
On Thursday, Thai Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Banidong said that Thai diplomats in Muscat, the capital of Oman, are cooperating with Omani authorities and are making every effort to rescue the three trapped crew members.
Additionally, a Philippine foreign ministry official, representing the rotating ASEAN chairmanship, said that ASEAN foreign ministers would hold a special video conference on Friday (13th) to assess the impact of the Middle East situation on Southeast Asia.