India seizes three US-sanctioned oil tankers linked to Iran, ramps up maritime surveillance

Mumbai coast sees seizure of Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia over illicit oil trade (File image)

India has seized three oil tankers sanctioned by the United States and suspected of links to Iran, while stepping up maritime surveillance to curb illicit trade, a source familiar with the development told Reuters on Monday. Iranian state media, citing the National Iranian Oil Company, said the vessels were not connected to the company.

The ships, Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star, and Al Jafzia, were intercepted about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai earlier this month after authorities detected suspicious activity in India’s exclusive economic zone. They were later escorted to port for investigation. Officials believe the vessels frequently changed identities to avoid detection and were likely involved in ship-to-ship transfers used to mask the origin of oil cargoes.

India has since intensified monitoring across its maritime zone. According to the source, the Indian Coast Guard has deployed around 55 ships and 10 to 12 aircraft for round-the-clock surveillance to prevent sanctioned oil movements.

Data from shipping intelligence firm LSEG indicate two of the tankers had operational links to Iran. Al Jafzia carried fuel oil from Iran to Djibouti in 2025, while Stellar Ruby sailed under an Iranian flag. Asphalt Star mainly operated on routes near China.

The seizures follow improving ties between New Delhi and Washington, with the US recently lowering tariffs on Indian goods after India agreed to halt Russian oil imports.

Last year, the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned vessels named Global Peace, Chil 1, and Glory Star 1, with International Maritime Organisation numbers matching those of the ships seized by India, over sanctions violations.

Sanctioned crude and fuel are often traded at steep discounts, typically using layered ownership structures, falsified documentation, and mid-sea transfers to obscure origin and bypass enforcement scrutiny.