ALBAWABA- Indian authorities have seized three oil tankers linked to Iran’s shadow fleet, marking an unprecedented enforcement of U.S. sanctions on vessels smuggling Tehran’s petroleum.
The Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star, and Al Jafzia, known for repeatedly changing identities to evade detection, were intercepted on February 6 about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai after suspicious ship-to-ship transfers aimed at masking their Iranian origin.
The Indian Coast Guard, which briefly posted details of the operation before deleting them, has intensified surveillance with 55 ships and 12 aircraft patrolling territorial waters around the clock.
All three vessels are part of a 30-tanker network managed by UAE-based Indian national Jugwinder Singh Brar, who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2025.
The US has seized another "Shadow Fleet" tanker. The sanctioned tanker "Veronica III" was seized in the Indian ocean whilst reportedly transporting oil from Venezuela. The Veronica III is a Panamanian-flagged vessel under U.S. sanctions related to Iran. pic.twitter.com/4VbWCFdvVJ
— raging545 (@raging545) February 15, 2026
The seizure coincided with a major U.S.-India trade framework, signaling New Delhi’s alignment with stricter sanctions enforcement under the Trump administration. India, which historically imported significant Iranian oil until U.S. pressures curtailed deals in 2019, is now deepening cooperation with Washington amid shared concerns over China.
The move risks straining India-Iran relations, long anchored in energy trade and Chabahar port investments. Tehran may view the crackdown as a betrayal, potentially jeopardizing joint projects and prompting retaliatory trade curbs, with bilateral trade already down 40% since 2022.
The detentions, conducted in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone, could set a precedent for allied nations to intercept shadow fleets, disrupt global shipping lanes, and inflame tensions in strategic waterways such as the Red Sea, potentially affecting oil prices and supply chains worldwide.
