Overview
- Foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said there had been no such discussions and added that the three vessels in question are not Iranian-owned.
- India detained Asphalt Star, Al Jafzia and Stellar Ruby near its waters in February, and the tankers are now anchored off Mumbai.
- Stellar Ruby is Iranian-flagged while Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia are flagged to Nicaragua and Mali, and all three are linked to entities under U.S. sanctions, according to official filings and vessel data.
- An Indian Coast Guard complaint alleges the ships concealed identities and conducted illicit ship-to-ship transfers of fuel products.
- Iran has allowed some Indian ships to pass the Strait of Hormuz, and India says talks continue to secure safe transit for others with at least 22 Indian vessels still in the waterway.