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The Indian Coast Guard has reportedly confiscated three Iranian oil tankers in the Arabian Sea during a coordinated effort against an international oil smuggling ring, according to Iranian media reports.
This event occurred a few weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government rescinded its agreement with Iran regarding the Chabahar port. India was compelled to withdraw from participating in the port project after the United States imposed a 25% tariff on countries engaging with Tehran, as reported by The Economic Times last week.
On social media platform X, the Indian Coast Guard stated that it intercepted the vessels approximately 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai on Friday, utilizing advanced surveillance and data analysis techniques. They refrained from specifically naming Iran but indicated that the vessels were linked to Iran based on tracking and Iranian media reports.
The coast guard explained that the syndicate took advantage of mid-sea transfers in international waters to shift inexpensive oil from conflict zones to motor tankers, thereby bypassing duties owed to coastal nations.
Tanker-tracking company TankerTrackers identified the ships as AL JAFZIA, ASPHALT STAR, and STELLAR RUBY. All three ships are under U.S. sanctions, with STELLAR RUBY flying under the Iranian flag. Iranian media separately reported that the tankers were connected to Iran and were detained on charges of oil smuggling.
The Indian Coast Guard added that these ships are known for frequently altering their identities. They emphasized that the operation illustrates India’s role as a major maritime security provider and defender of the rules-based international order.
Neither Indian authorities nor Iranian officials have publicly commented on the claims linking these vessels to Iran.
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