- By Ajeet Kumar
- Wed, 27 May 2026 12:36 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Ten Indian sailors released from Iran detention.
- Release followed sustained diplomatic efforts by India.
- Crew of MV Harbour Phoenix intercepted near Jask.
Ten Indian sailors detained in Iran since July 2025 after their oil tanker was intercepted near Jask Port have been released following sustained diplomatic efforts, India’s shipping authorities said late Tuesday. According to the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), the crew members aboard the MV Harbour Phoenix had been “detained, arrested and imprisoned” after Iranian authorities intercepted the vessel near the southern Iranian port.
“The seafarers have now been released and reunited safely,” the DGS said in a statement, adding that arrangements are being made to ensure the crew’s earliest return to India.
India's silent diplomacy
The Indian government reportedly adopted a strategy of quiet diplomacy and avoided public statements during negotiations aimed at securing the sailors’ release.
Authorities, however, did not disclose the exact reason behind the crew’s detention or provide further details about the vessel, which ship-tracking platforms identify as a Palau-flagged oil products tanker.
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India and Iran share longstanding diplomatic and energy ties, though New Delhi also maintains strategic relations with the United States and Israel. Iranian forces have frequently intercepted ships in Gulf waters, alleging illegal fuel transportation.
The major development came more than a week after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held wide-ranging talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, focusing on the West Asia crisis and its impact on energy supplies and maritime stability. It was not immediately clear whether the topic of Indian sailors came up in the meeting or not.
Hormuz tensions
The release comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with Iran tightening restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route that handles nearly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments.
India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, sources nearly half of its crude oil through the strait, making stability in the region crucial for its energy security.
(With inputs from agency)
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