India Ramps Up Diplomatic Efforts for Detained Crew in Iran
The Indian government has significantly increased its diplomatic engagement with Iran. Officials are urgently seeking consular access and a swift resolution for sixteen Indian crew members. These sailors remain detained on a merchant vessel held by Iranian authorities since last December.
Ongoing Diplomatic Outreach
The Indian embassy in Tehran confirmed the intensified efforts in a recent press release. The mission received information about the detention of the vessel, MT Valiant Roar, around mid-December 2025. In response, the Consulate of India in Bandar Abbas formally wrote to the Iranian government on December 14th. The letter requested immediate consular access to the crew.
Since that initial contact, Indian diplomats have persistently followed up. They have used both written correspondence and direct, in-person meetings. These meetings have taken place in Bandar Abbas and Tehran, involving officials at the ambassador level. The embassy has also specifically asked Iranian authorities to allow the detained crew to communicate with their anxious families back in India.
Ensuring Basic Needs and Legal Support
Beyond consular access, the Indian mission has worked to ensure the crew's welfare. Officials contacted the UAE-based ship-owning company on December 15th. They have maintained regular contact with the company's agents based in Iran. The goal is to guarantee continuous supplies of food, water, and fuel for the vessel.
The mission is also pressing for proper legal representation for the crew in Iranian courts. When provisions on the ship began depleting, the Indian mission intervened directly with the Iranian navy. This intervention led to emergency supplies of food and water being arranged in early January.
Simultaneously, the Indian consulate in Dubai has been engaging with the ship-owning company. They are coordinating efforts to ensure regular provisioning and robust legal support for the sailors. The embassy noted that the case is expected to proceed through Iran's standard judicial process.
Families Appeal for Urgent Action
The diplomatic push comes amid heartfelt appeals from the families of the detained men. Earlier, the father of one crew member, Ketan Mehta, made a public plea. Mukesh Mehta described his son as a third engineer on the tanker, which is operated by Prime Tanker LLC of Dubai.
He said his family has been living in constant anxiety since learning of the detention. Mehta appealed directly to the Indian government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Directorate General of Shipping. He urged them to take immediate diplomatic steps to secure the crew's prompt release.
Background of the Seizure
Iranian forces seized the oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on December 13th. Iranian authorities claimed the vessel was carrying six million litres of diesel fuel. They stated all sixteen crew members on board were Indian nationals.
Iran frequently announces the boarding of vessels it accuses of illegally transporting fuel. Officials cite smuggling concerns, often linked to low domestic fuel prices within Iran. Authorities have consistently denied that such seizures are retaliatory actions against other nations.
The Gulf of Oman and the nearby Strait of Hormuz are critically important maritime chokepoints. These waterways handle nearly twenty percent of the entire world's oil trade. Tensions in the region remain high, fueled by increased naval activity and ongoing geopolitical friction.
The Indian mission and consulate continue to press Iranian authorities on two key fronts. They are demanding early consular access for the crew. They are also urging the expeditious completion of all judicial proceedings related to the case.
