India this month seized three oil tankers linked to U.S. sanctions on Iran and escorted them to Mumbai for investigation after suspicious activity about 100 nautical miles west of the city. The vessels — Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia — are accused of frequently changing identities to evade enforcement. India has deployed roughly 55 ships and 10–12 aircraft for continuous maritime surveillance as authorities probe ownership, IMO records and recent cargo movements. The move comes amid improved U.S.-India ties and concerns over mid-sea transfers used to obscure sanctioned oil shipments.
India Seizes Three Iran-Linked Oil Tankers Under U.S. Sanctions, Intensifies Maritime Patrols
India seizes three Iran-linked US-sanctioned tankers, source says
NEW DELHI, Feb 16 (Reuters) - India this month intercepted and seized three oil tankers that U.S. sanctions link to Iran and has stepped up round-the-clock surveillance of its maritime zones to curb illicit trade, a source with direct knowledge told Reuters.
Indian authorities detected suspicious activity roughly 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai and escorted the vessels to Mumbai for further investigation. A Feb. 6 post on X by Indian authorities referring to the interceptions was later deleted; the source confirmed the action.
Vessels And Tactics
The three tankers identified by the source are Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia. The source said the vessels frequently changed names and other identifiers to evade coastal law enforcement, and that their beneficial owners are registered overseas. Such tactics — including ship-to-ship transfers at sea, opaque ownership structures and false documentation — are commonly used to mask the origin of sanctioned oil and fuel, which is often sold at deep discounts.
Official Responses And Evidence
Iranian state media, citing the National Iranian Oil Company, denied any link between the seized ships or their cargoes and the state firm. U.S. Treasury sanctions last year named three vessels — Global Peace, Chil 1 and Glory Star 1 — that the source said carried IMO numbers identical to the ships recently detained by India.
According to LSEG data cited by Reuters, Al Jafzia previously transported fuel oil from Iran to Djibouti in 2025 and Stellar Ruby has been flagged in Iran. The Asphalt Star has primarily operated on routes around China.
Increased Patrols And Strategic Context
The Indian Coast Guard has deployed about 55 ships and 10–12 aircraft to provide continuous surveillance across India’s maritime zones, the source said. The enforcement action and patrol buildup come amid warming ties between Washington and New Delhi: the United States recently announced it would cut import tariffs on certain Indian goods after India agreed to halt imports of Russian oil.
The detained vessels remain subject to investigation as Indian authorities and international agencies examine ownership records, IMO data and cargo histories. Reuters reported this information based on direct sources and publicly available shipping data; additional reporting for this story was provided by Menna Alaa El-Din and Parisa Hafezi.
(Reporting by Saurabh Sharma; Additional reporting by Menna Alaa El-Din and Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Andrei Khalip and David Holmes)
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