Iran has asked India to free three tankers seized in February as part of ongoing discussions to ensure the safe transit of Indian-flagged or India-bound vessels through the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, three sources with knowledge of the matter said. The demand for the return of the vessels forms one element of a broader negotiation over passage through waters that have been volatile since the outbreak of hostilities in the region.
Indian authorities detained the three ships - Asphalt Star, Al Jafzia and Stellar Ruby - near Indian waters on allegations that they had obscured or altered their identities and were taking part in illegal ship-to-ship transfers at sea. Officials say the ships were used to move refined products at sea, and all three remain anchored off Mumbai.
An Indian Coast Guard police complaint filed on February 15 said Asphalt Star was involved in smuggling heavy fuel oil that was transferred to Al Jafzia and that bitumen was moved to Stellar Ruby. Stellar Ruby flies the Iranian flag, while Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia are registered to Nicaragua and Mali respectively. Around the time the vessels were seized, Iranian state media cited the National Iranian Oil Company as saying the three tankers had no links to the company.
One of the sources said Tehran had also sought deliveries of certain medicines and medical equipment as part of discussions. Iran's ambassador to New Delhi met officials from India's foreign ministry on Monday to raise the issue, according to another source. The sources declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the discussions.
India's foreign ministry, the Iranian embassy in New Delhi, and Iran's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Indian officials reported that Iran recently permitted two Indian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers to pass through the strait, and one of those vessels returned to western India on Monday. New Delhi has highlighted the urgency of moving LPG cargos: an Indian source said six of the vessels waiting in the Gulf are loaded with LPG and India is seeking their passage first to help relieve a domestic cooking fuel shortage. Roughly 90% of India’s total LPG imports come from the Gulf.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to near standstill on both sides of the waterway since the start of the war in Iran. The conflict intensified in late February when U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran prompted Tehran to strike back across the region, including attacks on vessels attempting to transit the strait. Those actions have killed three Indian sailors and left one seafarer missing.
At a daily news briefing, foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about negotiations to secure passage for Indian vessels. He said recent movements reflected a "history of engagement, of dealing with each other", and added that nothing was being exchanged.
An Indian tally shows at least 22 Indian-flagged vessels and 611 Indian seafarers remain in the Gulf. The concentration of Indian crews and ships in the area, along with the reported deaths and missing seafarer, underscores the human and commercial stakes tied to the dispute over passage and detained vessels.
One of the men linked publicly to the seized fleet, Jugwinder Singh Brar, who the United States has accused of operating a shipping fleet that helps transport Iranian oil, said he was a consultant to all three ships detained by India and denied any wrongdoing. He said by phone that his vessels were carrying bitumen and that there was nothing illegal about that cargo. "We were transporting bitumen and there is nothing illegal in doing this. My ships have been there for 40 days and I have faced losses," he said, adding he was not aware of negotiations regarding the tankers.
Outcomes remain uncertain as both sides weigh their priorities. India prioritizes resuming movement of LPG cargos to ease domestic shortages, while Iran is pressing for the return of the three detained vessels and has requested medical supplies as part of broader discussions to de-escalate maritime tensions. With a significant number of Indian ships and seafarers still in the Gulf and recent fatalities linked to attacks in the strait, commercial, human safety, and energy supply considerations are central to any agreement on safe passage.