India Seizes Three US-Sanctioned Iranian-Linked Oil Tankers

Indian authorities have seized three oil tankers sanctioned by the United States for their links to Iran, in a move aimed at cracking down on illicit trade and sanctions evasion in its waters, according to a Reuters report citing a source with direct knowledge.

The vessels involved are the Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star, and Al Jafzia. These ships, described as part of Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet,” frequently changed identities, including flags, names, or other identifiers, to evade detection and enforcement by coastal nations. Their owners are reportedly based overseas.

The interceptions took place on February 6, when the Indian Coast Guard spotted suspicious activities, including potential ship-to-ship transfers used to obscure the origin of sanctioned oil cargoes. The three vessels were intercepted approximately 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai in India’s exclusive economic zone and escorted for further investigation.

In the wake of the seizures, India has significantly ramped up surveillance across its maritime zones. The Indian Coast Guard has deployed around 55 ships and 10-12 aircraft for round-the-clock monitoring to prevent its waters from being used for illicit oil transfers and shadow shipping operations that bypass international sanctions.

The National Iranian Oil Company has denied any connection to the vessels or their cargoes, stating through state media that neither is linked to Iran.

The action comes amid warmer ties between India and the United States on issues like sanctions enforcement, as New Delhi seeks to balance its energy needs with growing cooperation on global security matters.