With Trade Deal Breakthrough, India Seized Tankers Headed To Iran

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India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI – On the same day that Washington said there was a trade deal with New Delhi, Indian authorities intercepted three oil tankers linked to Iran that had been previously sanctioned by the United States.

The timing of the seizure coincided exactly with a significant move by the U.S. to slash import tariffs on Indian goods from 50 percent to 18 percent. This economic concession followed reports of an Indian commitment to stop purchasing Russian oil, signaling a transactional shift in how the two nations manage maritime security and energy trade.

The vessels, identified as Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star, and Al Jafzia, were stopped approximately 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai after officials detected suspicious ship-to-ship transfers within India’s exclusive economic zone, Reuters reported. Although an official social media post acknowledging the interception was briefly published and then removed, the media was quick to pick it up.

Authorities believe the ships used layered ownership structures based outside of India and repeatedly modified their identities to evade coastal monitoring.

The International Maritime Organization numbers for the detained tankers correspond to the Global Peace, Chil 1, and Glory Star 1, which were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control last year, Reuters said. Shipping records show the vessels have a history of transporting Iranian fuel oil and operating on routes linked to China. To curb the use of such shadow fleet tactics, the Indian Coast Guard has deployed 55 vessels and 12 aircraft for constant surveillance of sensitive sea lanes.

This enforcement action also puts pressure on Indian firms. The State Department has sanctioned several entities tied to Iran’s oil trade, including the Indian-based Elevate Marine Management Private Limited.