India has seized three US-sanctioned oil tanker vessels linked to Iran and stepped up maritime surveillance in its waters.
The vessels — Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star, and Al Jafzia — were intercepted around 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai after authorities detected suspicious ship-to-ship transfer activity within India’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
While an official social media post confirming the interception was later deleted, the report said the tankers were escorted to Mumbai for further investigation.
The development comes amid improving trade and strategic ties between India and the United States. Earlier this month, Washington announced a sharp reduction in import tariffs on Indian goods — from 50% to 18% — following India’s reported commitment to halt imports of Russian crude oil.
Indian authorities believe the three vessels repeatedly changed their identities and operational details to evade detection by coastal enforcement agencies. Their ownership structures are reportedly registered overseas, adding to suspicions of sanctions evasion.
Last year, the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned vessels named Global Peace, Chil 1, and Glory Star 1. Reuters noted that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) numbers of those ships match the tankers now detained by Indian authorities.
Shipping data from LSEG shows that Al Jafzia transported Iranian fuel oil to Djibouti in 2025, while Stellar Ruby was flagged in Iran. Asphalt Star, meanwhile, largely operated on China-linked shipping routes.
India is increasingly seeking to prevent its waters from being used for illicit ship-to-ship oil transfers — a common tactic used to disguise the origin of sanctioned crude and fuel cargoes. In response, the Indian Coast Guard has deployed around 55 ships and 10–12 aircraft to maintain round-the-clock surveillance across critical maritime zones.
Sanctioned oil is typically sold at steep discounts and moved through complex ownership structures, falsified documentation, and mid-sea transfers, making enforcement challenging for maritime and financial regulators worldwide.