India Seizes Three US-Sanctioned Iran-Linked Oil Tankers Off Mumbai Coast

India Seizes Three US-Sanctioned Tankers Linked to Iran; Maritime Surveillance Intensified

India has detained three oil tankers sanctioned by the United States and allegedly linked to Iran, stepping up efforts to curb illicit maritime trade, according to a source cited by Reuters. However, the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has denied any connection to the vessels.

The development follows a February 6 post by Indian authorities on X that was later deleted. The ships — Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia — were reportedly operating with frequently altered identities to evade detection, the source said, adding that their ownership structures trace back to overseas entities.

Intercepted Near Mumbai

According to officials, the vessels were intercepted roughly 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai after suspicious tanker activity was flagged. They were subsequently escorted to port for further investigation.

Indian authorities are said to be particularly wary of ship-to-ship (STS) transfers in their waters — a method often used to obscure the origin of oil cargoes and bypass sanctions enforcement.

While Iranian state media, quoting NIOC, insisted that neither the vessels nor their cargoes were tied to the company, shipping data paints a more complex picture.

Links to US Sanctions

The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had previously sanctioned three vessels — Global Peace, Chil 1 and Glory Star 1 — whose International Maritime Organisation (IMO) numbers match those of the ships recently seized.

Shipping analytics firm London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) data indicates that two of the detained tankers have operational links to Iran. Al Jafzia reportedly transported Iranian fuel oil to Djibouti in 2025, while Stellar Ruby had been flagged in Iran. Asphalt Star primarily operated on routes connected to China.

Surveillance Ramped Up

Following the seizure, the Indian Coast Guard has significantly expanded maritime monitoring. The source said around 55 ships and 10–12 aircraft are now conducting round-the-clock surveillance across India’s maritime zones to prevent sanction-evasion tactics.

Sanctioned oil cargoes are often sold at steep discounts due to legal and financial risks. Traders commonly employ layered ownership structures, falsified documentation and mid-sea transfers to conceal cargo origins and avoid enforcement scrutiny.

The seizures come amid strengthening US-India relations, underscoring New Delhi’s efforts to ensure its waters are not used for sanction-circumvention operations.