World News
India seized Three US-Sanctioned Tankers Linked to Iran, Steps Up Maritime Surveillance
India has seized three US-sanctioned oil tankers linked to Iran this month and ramped up maritime surveillance to prevent illicit oil trade in its waters, Reuters reported on Monday, citing a source with direct knowledge of the matter.
India has seized three US-sanctioned oil tankers linked to Iran this month and ramped up maritime surveillance to prevent illicit oil trade in its waters, Reuters reported on Monday, citing a source with direct knowledge of the matter.
According to the report, the move is aimed at preventing Indian waters from being used for ship-to-ship transfers designed to obscure the origin of oil cargoes.
The action comes amid improving ties between New Delhi and Washington following the announcement of an interim trade agreement between the two countries.
Tankers Frequently Changed Identities
The three vessels — Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star, and Al Jafzia — reportedly changed their identities frequently to evade enforcement by coastal authorities. Their owners are based overseas, the Reuters source said.
Iranian state media, citing the National Iranian Oil Company, said the seized tankers had no connection to the company and that neither the vessels nor the cargoes were linked to it.
Sanctions and Surveillance
Reuters further reported that the Indian Coast Guard has deployed around 55 ships and 10–12 aircraft for round-the-clock monitoring within India’s maritime zones.
The report noted that the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control had last year sanctioned vessels named Global Peace, Chil 1 and Glory Star 1 — with IMO numbers identical to the ships recently seized by India.
Data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), cited by Reuters, indicated that two of the three tankers were linked to Iran. Al Jafzia reportedly carried fuel oil from Iran to Djibouti in 2025, while Stellar Ruby was flagged in Iran. Asphalt Star mainly operated on routes around China.
Earlier Oil Smuggling Bust
Earlier this month, the Indian Coast Guard announced it had dismantled an international oil-smuggling racket operating through a complex sea-air network, though it did not initially provide detailed information.
According to an official release, the vessels involved smuggled large volumes of low-cost oil and oil-based cargo from conflict-ridden regions and conducted mid-sea transfers to motor tankers in international waters to evade duties owed to coastal states, including India.
Three vessels were intercepted approximately 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai. Through electronic data verification, document checks, and crew interrogation, authorities established the chain of operations and identified the modus operandi.
Advanced surveillance systems detected suspicious activity within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone, prompting a digital investigation. Data pattern analysis revealed coordination between multiple vessels engaged in illicit oil transfers while frequently changing identities to avoid detection.
Strengthening Maritime Enforcement
The operation, enabled by enhanced digital surveillance and increased maritime presence, underscores India’s efforts to curb illegal trade and enforce international maritime norms.
Officials described the crackdown as reinforcing India’s role as a net provider of maritime security and a defender of the rules-based international order.
The development highlights growing scrutiny over sanctions evasion and illicit oil trade routes amid shifting geopolitical alignments and strengthened India-US cooperation.
