- Indian Embassy in Iran seeks early consular access to 16 Indian crew on MT Valiant Roar
- The tanker was seized by Iranian IRGC near UAE's Dibba Port in December 2025
- India requested consular access and communication rights for crew since mid-December
The Indian Embassy in Iran on Saturday, Jan. 17, said that the Mission and the Consulate have been pressing the Iranian authorities to grant early consular access to 16 Indian crew members of the seized vessel MT Valiant Roar.
The oil tanker was intercepted by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the international waters near the UAE's Dibba Port last month.
In an official statement, the Indian Mission said it was informed about the vessel's detention by Iranian authorities around mid-December 2025.
On Dec. 14, 2025, the Consulate of India in Bandar Abbas immediately wrote to the Iranian government and sought consular access to the crew. Since then, the request for consular access has been made "numerous times" both by diplomatic correspondence and in-person meetings in Bandar Abbas and Tehran. This includes, at the level of the Ambassador as well.
Besides this, authorities in the country have been requested to allow the crew members to communicate with their respective families in India.
On Dec. 15, 2025, the Consulate also contacted the UAE-based company that owns the ship, as well as its agents in Iran. They have been asked to ensure "provision of food, water and fuel for the ship, and also to arrange legal representation for the crew in Iranian courts."
"Upon being informed by the ship of depleting food and water stocks, the Mission intervened with the Iranian navy to arrange emergency supplies of food and water in early January," read the statement.
Meanwhile, the Indian Consulate in Dubai has pressed the company to ensure legal representation along with regular supplies of provisions to the ship.
In Iran, the matter is now expected to be subject to the judicial process. The "Mission and the Consulate continue to press the Iranian authorities to grant early consular access to the crew, and to ensure expeditious completion of the judicial proceedings," the Indian Embassy in Iran said.
According to ANI, MT Valiant Roar was intercepted by the IRGC on Dec. 8, 2025. The vessel has been accused of smuggling 6,000 MT of fuel by the Iranian authorities.
The vessel is operated by Prime Tanker LLC, Dubai, PTI reported.
Among the 16 crew members is Ketan Mehta, who works as a 3rd Engineer on the oil tanker. His father, Mukesh Mehta, has urged the Indian government to intervene in the matter to free his son from detention.
Mukesh Mehta said that the family has been living in constant fear and anxiety since they heard about Ketan's detention. He added that his son has not committed any crime or violated any international law.
The last time the family made contact with Ketan was on Dec. 31, 2025. At that time, Ketan communicated through a colleague, who was identified as oiler Pothi Diwakar. "The MEA asked for his passport details, which we provided immediately. But since then, there has been no update, no clarity, and no reassurance," ANI quoted Mukesh Mehta as saying.
The family has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "use his diplomatic influence" to get their son back.
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