India Seizes Three US-Sanctioned Tankers Linked to Iran off Mumbai Coast

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New Delhi Indian authorities have seized three oil tankers linked to Iran and sanctioned by the United States during a coordinated maritime operation in the Arabian Sea, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The vessels were intercepted about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai after being flagged for suspicious activity within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), according to a statement from the defence ministry. The operation was carried out by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) following detection through technology-enabled surveillance systems.

Officials said digital investigations and vessel movement pattern analysis led to the identification of two additional ships converging on a tanker already under watch. Authorities suspect the vessels were engaged in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of oil cargo in an attempt to evade duties owed to coastal states, including India.

The tankers, reportedly sailing under foreign flags, are believed to have indirect links to entities blacklisted by the US Treasury for allegedly facilitating Iranian oil exports in violation of American sanctions. Preliminary findings suggest the cargoes may have been crude oil of Iranian origin.

The seizures come amid intensified global scrutiny of so-called “shadow fleet” networks — vessels accused by Washington of using complex ownership structures, flag-hopping and covert ship-to-ship transfers to obscure the origin of Iranian crude and bypass sanctions.

According to reports, the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has denied that the seized tankers or their cargoes have any connection to the company, Iranian state media reported.

Sources said the operation also follows recent developments in US-India relations, with India increasing maritime surveillance in its waters to curb illegal trade activities.

Investigations into the ownership, cargo origin and potential sanctions violations are ongoing.