Indian Coast Guard detains suspicious vessels linked to Tehran – Iran International
One of the seized vessels (Photo: Indian Coast Guard / EPA)

Indian Coast Guard said about the detention of vessels allegedly involved in the illegal transportation of oil. Iran International, a media outlet opposed to the Islamic Republic, citing the specialized company TankerTrackers and local resources, writes that these are ships linked to Iran.

The Indian side announced the disclosure of an international oil smuggling network on February 6 as a result of a "meticulously coordinated" operation at sea and in the air.

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"The syndicate exploited mid-sea transfers [of oil] in international waters to move cheap oil from conflict ridden regions to motor tankers, evading duties owed to coastal states," the Coast Guard said.

The Indian Coast Guard indicates that it intercepted three suspicious vessels approximately 185 kilometers west of the city of Mumbai, and extensive searches, electronic data checks and crew interrogations revealed their pattern of operation and global network of organizers.

The vessels, known for frequently changing their data, are now being escorted to Mumbai for further legal action, the report said.

Iran International, quoting a statement from TankerTrackers, said that the ships in question are AL JAFZIA, ASPHALT STAR and STELLAR RUBY, which are under US sanctions, and the latter was flying the Iranian flag.

The country's resources also separately reported that the three seized tankers were linked to the Islamic Republic and detained on suspicion of oil smuggling, noting that the vessels would come under US restrictions in 2025.

Washington accused Tehran of using a "shadow fleet" to evade its oil sanctions.

India and Iran have not publicly commented on reports of the detained vessels' connection to the Islamic Republic.

  • On February 6, WSJ interlocutors reported that Tehran, during new talks with the United States refused to stop enriching nuclear fuel. The meeting took place against the backdrop of a U.S. military buildup in the region and U.S. president Trump's threats to strike Iran.
  • On February 8, Reuters reported that Indian refineries are avoiding purchases of Russian oil, which is scheduled to be delivered in April, and are expected to refrain from such transactions for even longer. This step could help India conclude a trade agreement with the United States.