ISLAMABAD: In a stark display of shifting allegiances, India has seized three US-sanctioned oil tankers linked to Iranian crude shipments, effectively turning against its former close partner Iran to curry favor with President Donald Trump’s administration.
The operation unfolded on February 6, 2026, when India’s Coast Guard intercepted the vessels Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star, and Al Jafzia approximately 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea.
These tankers, part of Iran’s shadow fleet, were engaged in suspicious ship-to-ship transfers within India’s exclusive economic zone, a tactic used to mask the origins of sanctioned oil.
Shipping records from LSEG and TankerTrackers confirm the Iranian connections: Al Jafzia transported Iranian fuel oil to Djibouti in 2025, while Stellar Ruby flew the Iranian flag during the seizure.
All three ships faced US sanctions in 2025 by the Office of Foreign Assets Control for facilitating Iran’s petroleum trade, highlighting India’s sudden enforcement against activities it once overlooked.
This marks India’s inaugural crackdown on the dark fleet, a network of aging vessels that evade sanctions by altering identities, flags, and tracking data to move oil from Iran, Russia, and Venezuela.
In response, India has ramped up maritime surveillance, deploying 55 ships and 10-12 aircraft for nonstop monitoring to halt illicit transfers and enforce maritime rules.
The seizures coincide with a major US-India trade announcement on the same day, where Washington slashed tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18%, tied to India’s pledge to cease heavy Russian oil imports.
Analysts see this as India’s capitulation to US demands, prioritizing economic incentives over longstanding ties with Iran, including joint infrastructure projects.
Once a key buyer of Iranian oil, India halted significant imports in 2019 under US sanctions pressure, with 2019 figures at $2.82 billion dropping to negligible levels by 2026.
Recent data from Trading Economics and reports show India’s crude oil imports from Iran remain minimal, as New Delhi shifts to alternatives like Venezuelan supplies, as touted by Trump on January 31, 2026.
Trump explicitly stated India would buy Venezuelan oil “as opposed to Iran,” framing it as part of a deal to replace sanctioned sources.
This pivot extends to the Chabahar port, a strategic India-Iran venture aimed at boosting connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
India signed a 10-year operations deal in 2024, but the Union Budget 2026-27 allocates zero funds for Chabahar, a first in nearly a decade.
The US waiver for Chabahar expires on April 26, 2026, with no extension in sight amid Trump’s “maximum pressure” on Iran.
Ministry of External Affairs statements confirm India transferred the committed $120 million for port equipment by August 2025, but the $250 million credit line remains unfulfilled amid sanctions fears.
Reports from CNBC TV18 and ThePrint indicate India is winding down operations, citing US tariffs that could hit countries trading with Iran an additional 25%.
Despite Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Fathali’s calls to expand ties and back Chabahar, India’s actions suggest a deliberate retreat to avoid US penalties.
Wikipedia entries note India’s reported exit in 2026 due to American tariffs, though official denials claim ongoing talks for waiver extensions.
This abandonment follows steady budget cuts: from Rs 400 crore in prior years to Rs 100 crore in 2025-26, now zero, per Economic Times.
Experts argue the shadow fleet’s growth, fueled by sanctions on major producers, has enabled discounted oil flows, but India’s intervention disrupts Iran’s economic lifeline.
Iran’s oil exports sharply declined at the start of 2026, per tanker-tracking data from Iran International, exacerbating Tehran’s isolation.
The seizures involve a fleet managed by UAE-based Indian national Jugwinder Singh Brar, sanctioned by the US Treasury in April 2025 for Iranian oil links.
US State Department actions on February 6 targeted related entities like Elevate Marine Management in India, underscoring coordinated enforcement.
Ongoing investigations under Indian maritime laws may lead to prosecutions, with overseas owners evading accountability through identity shifts.
This episode exposes India’s opportunistic foreign policy, ditching Iran—a partner in Chabahar investments and oil trade—for Trump’s trade perks.
International observers decry the move as a blow to regional stability, prioritizing US alignment over independent diplomacy.
As sanctions tighten, Iran’s shadow fleet faces mounting challenges, with India’s betrayal signaling a broader crackdown.
Ultimately, Modi’s government appears to sacrifice strategic autonomy, acting as a US proxy in curbing Iranian oil shipments.