Tehran [Iran], March 16 (ANI): Iran has asked India to release three seized tankers in exchange for permitting the safe passage of Indian-flagged or India-bound ships through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported on Monday.
According to Reuters, India had earlier seized the tankers after alleging that they had concealed or altered their identities and were involved in illegal ship-to-ship transfers at sea. The vessels—Asphalt Star, Al Jafzia, and Stellar Ruby—were detained on these grounds. Stellar Ruby is Iranian-flagged, while the other two vessels are flagged to Nicaragua and Mali, the report said.
Tehran has also sought supplies of certain medicines and medical equipment, according to an Iranian official cited by Reuters. Iran’s ambassador to New Delhi met officials from India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Monday to discuss the matter, the source added.
Meanwhile, the Indian LPG carrier Shivalik, carrying about 40,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas, reached Mundra Port in Gujarat on Monday evening after safely transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier in the day, addressing an inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia in New Delhi, Special Secretary at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Rajesh Kumar Sinha said that documentation and priority berthing had been arranged to ensure no delay in the discharge of cargo from the vessel.
Another Indian-flagged vessel, Jag Laadki, which departed from the UAE carrying about 81,000 tonnes of Murban crude oil, is also safely en route to India.
According to the Shipping Ministry, all Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf region are safe, with no incidents reported in the past 24 hours.
There are currently 22 Indian-flagged vessels in the Persian Gulf, carrying a total of 611 seafarers.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized direct dialogue with Tehran as the most effective method for resuming maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, as India seeks to safeguard its energy security amid escalating tensions in West Asia.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Jaishankar said that New Delhi is engaging with Iran to facilitate the reopening of the critical waterway, which handles nearly 20 percent of global oil trade.
He noted that these discussions are already yielding some results, suggesting that India finds it more effective to engage and coordinate with Tehran rather than disengage.
However, Jaishankar clarified that a formal “blanket arrangement” for all Indian-flagged ships has not yet been established, adding that vessel transit is currently being managed on a case-by-case basis. (ANI)
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