India is reported to have received an informal proposal from Iran to release three detained tankers in exchange for assurances on safe passage for Indian‑flagged and India‑bound ships through the Strait of Hormuz, according to government and diplomatic sources cited in local media. The three vessels—Asphalt Star, Al Jafzia and Stellar Ruby—were held by Indian authorities in February over alleged identity concealment and illicit ship‑to‑ship fuel transfers, while Tehran has also sought supplies of specific medicines and medical equipment as part of the broader engagement, the sources indicated.
The discussions are taking place against a backdrop of heightened tensions and shipping disruptions in the Gulf, where renewed hostilities involving Iran have increased risks and insurance costs for commercial traffic transiting the strategic chokepoint. Iran has warned that normal navigation in the area cannot be guaranteed in the midst of the crisis, underscoring the vulnerability of global energy and cargo flows that rely on the waterway.
New Delhi has publicly dismissed reports of any formal quid pro quo deal that would tie the fate of the three tankers to safe passage guarantees, calling such suggestions “baseless” and stressing that its talks with Tehran aim to uphold maritime safety and protect commercial navigation without diluting legal or sovereign positions. The episode highlights the growing geopolitical complexity around shipping in the Persian Gulf and the delicate diplomatic balancing act for India as it works to shield its seaborne trade from regional turmoil.
