Hormuz Passage: Iran Wants India To Release Seized Tankers

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI – Iran has demanded that India release three tankers seized earlier this year as negotiations continue over the safe passage of Indian flagged and India-bound ships through the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports by Reuters.

Tehran has also requested that India supply certain medicines and medical equipment as part of the discussions, Reuters reported, citing sources familiar with the talks.

The dispute centers on three vessels seized by Indian authorities in February near Indian waters. Officials allege the ships concealed or altered their identities and were involved in illegal ship-to-ship transfers at sea, according to a police complaint seen by Reuters. The vessels named in the complaint are Asphalt Star, Al Jafzia, and Stellar Ruby.

Stellar Ruby sails under an Iranian flag, while Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia are registered in Nicaragua and Mali, respectively. Indian authorities say the ships were linked to a smuggling network that transferred heavy fuel oil and bitumen between vessels while attempting to obscure their movements.

All three tankers are currently docked off Mumbai following their seizure.

Iran’s ambassador to New Delhi met officials from India’s foreign ministry on March 16 to discuss the issue and broader concerns about maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy route for India, Reuters reported.

The talks come amid heightened tensions in the Gulf that have slowed shipping traffic through the strategic waterway. The strait handles a significant share of global energy shipments and is particularly critical for India, which imports most of its liquefied petroleum gas from the region.

Indian officials said Iran recently allowed two Indian LPG tankers to pass through the strait. New Delhi says at least 22 Indian flagged ships and 611 Indian seafarers remain in the Gulf.

Sources told Reuters that six of the vessels are carrying LPG cargo and that India is keen to secure their passage quickly to ease pressure on domestic supplies of the cooking fuel. Nearly 90 percent of India’s LPG imports come from Gulf countries.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said recent ship movements reflected a longstanding pattern of engagement between the two countries but insisted there was no quid pro quo involved in the discussions.

The negotiations underline India’s delicate balancing act in the Gulf, where tensions and sanctions have complicated energy flows. With oil and gas shipments moving through the Strait of Hormuz central to its energy security, New Delhi is seeking Tehran’s cooperation to ensure the continued movement of Indian vessels through one of the world’s most sensitive maritime chokepoints.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi made a point of it and posted on social media that  India had halted oil trade when the US reimposed sanctions and, “Now, with tensions in the Gulf threatening energy flows, New Delhi finds itself needing Tehran’s cooperation to steady its supplies.”