India has reportedly seized three oil tankers linked to Iran this month. These US-sanctioned oil tankers were seized amid heightened surveillance in India's maritime zone to curb illicit trade, Reuters reported, citing a source.
“India aims to prevent its waters from being used for ship-to-ship transfers that obscure the origin of oil cargoes,” the source with direct knowledge of the matter was quoted as saying by the news agency.
These types of transfers are often employed to conceal the true source of oil shipments and evade enforcement.
The three tankers, Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia, reportedly changed their identities frequently to avoid detection, the source said, adding that their owners are based overseas.
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As per the Reuters report, the data indicates that two of the three vessels have direct links to Iran. Al Jafzia transported fuel oil from Iran to Djibouti in 2025, while Stellar Ruby is registered under the Iranian flag. Asphalt Star, by contrast, has primarily operated on routes near China.
Iranian state media, citing the National Iranian Oil Company, denied any connection of the company to the vessels or their cargoes. It said the ships “had no connection to the company” and that neither the cargoes nor the vessels were linked to the company.
The authorities first announced the interceptions on Feb. 6 through a post on X, stating the vessels were located about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai following suspicious activity in India's exclusive economic zone. The post was later deleted, but the source confirmed that the ships were escorted to Mumbai for further investigation.
In response to these incidents, the Indian Coast Guard has reportedly deployed around 55 ships and between 10 and 12 aircraft to maintain continuous monitoring of its maritime zones.
The seizures coincide with a period of improving US-India relations. Earlier this month, Washington announced it would reduce import tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18%, following New Delhi's agreement to halt Russian oil imports.
The US Office of Foreign Assets Control had previously sanctioned three vessels, Global Peace, Chil 1 and Glory Star 1, which share IMO numbers with the tankers recently seized by India.
Sanctioned oil and fuel are often traded at steep discounts due to the risks involved. Complex ownership structures, false documentation and mid-sea cargo transfers frequently complicate enforcement.
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