Indian crew members of a ship seized by the Iranian Coast Guard on November 12 are permitted to leave Iran but are facing delays due to “technical issues” relating to the vessel’s operation. The ship, apprehended near Jask in Iranian waters, was accused of diesel smuggling, reportedly carrying about six million liters of fuel with an 18-member crew primarily from India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
While the crew has not been detained, they await coordination from the Indian Embassy in Tehran, which is facilitating their return. Reports indicate that the vessel ignored stop orders, lacked proper documentation, and had its radars switched off at the time of interception. This incident marks a continuation of Iran’s recent actions against smuggling, following a previous seizure involving another tanker, Talara.
Amid rising tensions over oil smuggling, the U.S. continues to monitor such activities, having recently intercepted a tanker linked to Iranian oil in Venezuela. The U.S. sanctions aimed at disrupting Iran’s economy have significantly impacted its oil exports, with India halting oil purchases from Iran since sanctions were reinstated in 2018.
