NEW DELHI: India has stepped up diplomatic engagement with Iran looking for consular entry and early decision for the case of 16 Indian crew members on board a service provider vessel detained by Iranian authorities in December final 12 months, the Indian embassy in Tehran stated.In a press launch on Saturday, the embassy stated it was knowledgeable round mid-December 2025 concerning the detention of MT Valiant Roar. The Consulate of India in Bandar Abbas wrote to the Iranian authorities on December 14 looking for consular entry to the crew and has since adopted up by way of diplomatic correspondence and in-person conferences in Bandar Abbas and Tehran, together with on the degree of the ambassador.
“The Iranian authorities had been additionally requested to permit the crew to speak with their households in India,” the embassy stated.The mission stated it contacted the UAE-based ship-owning firm on December 15 and has remained in contact with its Iran-based brokers to make sure meals, water and gas provides for the vessel, in addition to urgent for authorized illustration for the crew in Iranian courts. After being knowledgeable of depleting provisions, the mission intervened with the Iranian navy, which organized emergency meals and water provides in early January.The Indian consulate in Dubai has additionally been partaking the ship-owning firm to make sure common provisioning and authorized help, the embassy stated, including that the case is predicted to undergo Iran’s judicial course of.“Nevertheless, the Mission and the Consulate proceed to press the Iranian authorities to grant early consular entry to the crew, and to make sure expeditious completion of the judicial proceedings,” the assertion stated.Earlier within the day, the daddy of one of many detained crew members appealed to Indian authorities for pressing intervention. Mukesh Mehta stated his son Ketan, a 3rd engineer on board the tanker operated by Prime Tanker LLC, Dubai, was amongst these detained after the vessel was intercepted at Bandar Abbas port, reported PTI. He stated the household has been residing in fixed nervousness since studying of the detention and appealed to the federal government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ministry of exterior affairs and the Directorate Common of Delivery to take rapid diplomatic steps to safe the crew’s launch.Iran on December 13 had seized an oil tanker within the Gulf of Oman, claiming it was carrying six million litres of diesel gas and had 16 crew members from India on board.Iran has incessantly introduced the boarding of vessels it accuses of illegally transporting gas, citing smuggling issues amid low home gas costs. Authorities have denied that such seizures are retaliatory actions in opposition to different international locations.The Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz stay important maritime chokepoints, dealing with almost 20 per cent of world oil commerce, with heightened tensions persevering with amid elevated regional naval exercise and geopolitical friction.
