India has definitively rejected entering into negotiations with Iran concerning detained vessels, asserting it will not engage in bargaining over the matter, following a high-level meeting between the Iranian Ambassador and Indian Ministry of External Affairs officials in New Delhi. The assertion was made by the spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, who stated that New Delhi does not intend to compromise on trade operations. This followed discussions held on March 16 with Iran's Ambassador to India, Dr. Mohammad Fathali. The Iranian Ambassador had sought to arrange the release of three Iranian oil product tankers detained by India since February, which are suspected of engaging in illicit ship-to-ship transfers and falsifying registration data. These three tankers are subject to sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). According to a report published by *The Maritime Executive*, the detained vessels off the coast of Mumbai include the 'Asphalt Star' (IMO 9463528), registered in Aruba; the 'Chiltern' (IMO 9171498), registered in Nicaragua and formerly known as 'Jafza'; and the 'Stellar Ruby' (IMO 9555199), which sails under the Iranian flag. Additionally, the Iranian Ambassador requested the provision of emergency medical supplies for Iran. These developments occur shortly after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a series of telephonic communications with leaders of Gulf states, Bahrain, Israel, and Jordan. These calls preceded intensive contact with Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, whom Modi urged to halt attacks on neighboring countries and demanded the release of 22 Indian-flagged vessels and 611 Indian crew members detained in the Gulf region. India also continues to detain 50 out of 183 crew members and naval college students aboard the detained Iranian naval vessel IRINS Bushehr (K422) in Kochi. *The Maritime Executive* indicated that India's negotiating stance is underpinned by its superior naval capability, possessing a fleet equipped to safeguard Indian-flagged vessels stranded in the Gulf and ensure their safe passage. This military readiness was a decisive factor in Iran's agreement this week to notify India of its intent to escort two Indian Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carriers—'Shivalik' (IMO 9356892) and 'Nanda Devi' (IMO 9232503), both owned by Shipping Corporation of India (SCI)—through the Strait of Hormuz, alongside escorting the Indian oil tanker 'Jag Ladki' (IMO 9461764). The escort operation reportedly involved three Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, armed with Barak 8 missiles and BrahMos anti-ship missiles, likely including INS Visakhapatnam (D66), INS Imphal (D68), and INS Surat (D69), supported by aerial cover from Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopters. The Indian Ministry of Defence noted that six more of the 22 detained Indian vessels are scheduled to depart the Gulf in the coming days. |
