New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that eight of the sixteen Indian sailors detained in Iran had been freed and would soon be able to return to India after completing the required paperwork.
India is in contact with the Iranian authorities about the release of the remaining eight sailors and has promised them complete cooperation, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a media briefing in New Delhi on Thursday.
"We've had consular access. Our Consulate in Bandar Abbas, our officials in Bandar Abbas, they have gone and met them. Of those 16, eight people, this is what we have been informed by the Iranian authorities, eight of them have been released and they will be returning home as and when necessary formalities...for their travel is completed. In regard to the remaining eight sailors, we are in touch with the Iranian authorities. We will see how best to support them for whatever need they may have," Jaiswal told reporters.
On January 17, the Indian Embassy in Tehran stated that it was informed regarding the detention of the vessel MT Valiant Roar, with 16 Indian crew members on board, by Iranian authorities in mid-December. According to the statement, the Indian consulate in Bandar Abbas had made multiple requests to the Iranian authorities, seeking consular access to the crew, IANS reported.
In a statement shared on X, the Indian Embassy in Tehran stated, "Around mid-December 2025, the Mission was informed about the detention of the vessel MT Valiant Roar by Iranian authorities, with 16 Indian crew-members on board. The Consulate of India in Bandar Abbas immediately (on 14 December) wrote to the Government of Iran seeking Consular Access to the crew."
"The request for consular access has been repeated numerous times since then, both by diplomatic correspondence and in-person meetings in Bandar Abbas and Tehran, including at the level of the Ambassador. The Iranian authorities were also requested to allow the crew to communicate with their families in India," it added.
According to the statement, the Consulate also contacted the UAE-based company that owns the ship on December 15 and has subsequently been in touch with the Iran-based agents of the company, to press upon them to ensure provision of food, water and fuel for the ship, and to arrange legal representation for the crew in Iranian courts.
In the statement, the Indian Embassy in Tehran stated, "Upon being informed by the ship of depleting food and water stocks, the Mission intervened with the Iranian navy to arrange emergency supplies of food and water in early January. The Indian Consulate in Dubai has also been pressing upon the ship-owning company to ensure legal representation and regular supplies of provisions to the ship."
"The matter is expected to be subject to judicial process in Iran. However, the Mission and the Consulate continue to press the Iranian authorities to grant early consular access to the crew, and to ensure expeditious completion of the judicial proceedings," it added.