Author: Saurabh Sharma and Krishna N. Das
NEW DELHI, March 16 (Reuters) – Iran has asked India to release three oil tankers it seized in February as part of negotiations to allow Indian-flagged or India-bound vessels to safely exit the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Indian authorities have seized three Iran-linked oil tankers near Indian waters, claiming they had concealed or changed their identities and were involved in illegal ship-to-ship transfers at sea.
Tehran is also seeking supplies of certain medicines and medical equipment, according to an Iranian official, one of the sources.
Sources said Iran’s ambassador in New Delhi met with officials from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Monday to discuss the issue.
The sources declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.
India’s foreign ministry, the Iranian embassy in New Delhi and the Iranian foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Iran recently allowed two Indian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers to pass through the strait, one of which returned to western India on Monday, according to Indian officials. Since the outbreak of the Iran war, traffic on both sides of the Taiwan Strait has almost come to a standstill.
Asked about talks to ensure passage of Indian ships, foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said on Monday that the recent developments reflected a “history of engagement and mutual dealings”.
He told a daily news conference that no exchange had been made.
Since the United States and Israel began launching attacks on Iran in late February, Tehran has launched attacks across the region, including an attack on ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz that left three Indian sailors dead and one missing.
India said on Monday that at least 22 Indian-flagged ships and 611 Indian seafarers remained in the Gulf.
An Indian source said six of the ships were carrying liquefied petroleum gas and the country was eager to get them through first to ease a shortage of cooking fuel. About 90% of India’s total LPG imports come from the Gulf region.
Iran-linked oil tanker anchored near Mumbai
Indian authorities seized the Asphalt Star, Al Jafzia and Stellar Ruby oil tankers, claiming they had concealed or changed their identities and movements and were involved in illegal ship-to-ship transfers.
The Stellar Ruby flies the Iranian flag, while the other two ships fly the Nicaraguan and Malian flags.
A police complaint filed by the Indian Coast Guard on February 15 and seen by Reuters said Asphalt Star was involved in smuggling heavy fuel oil, which was transshipped to Al Jafzia and bitumen to Stellar Ruby. All three ships are currently docked near Mumbai.
