The vessels — Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star, and Al Jafzia — were intercepted earlier this month after maritime monitoring flagged irregular movements and documentation anomalies. They were escorted to port for inspection after officials determined that their International Maritime Organization (IMO) numbers matched those of ships previously sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. Such matches raised suspicions that the ships may have been operating in violation of international sanctions.
Authorities said preliminary findings suggest the vessels repeatedly altered names, flags, and identification markers to conceal their operational history. Investigators believe the ships are owned by foreign entities and may have been involved in high-risk oil transport routes designed to avoid scrutiny.
The National Iranian Oil Company denied any connection to the seized vessels or their cargo, according to statements carried by state-linked media in Iran. Officials there said neither the ships nor the oil shipments were associated with the company.
Following the seizure, the Indian Coast Guard intensified surveillance across India’s maritime zones, deploying roughly 55 ships and up to a dozen aircraft for round-the-clock monitoring. Officials described the move as precautionary, aimed at detecting suspicious shipping activity and preventing violations of international maritime law.
Shipping data cited by investigators indicates that Al Jafzia transported fuel oil from Iran to Djibouti in 2025, while Stellar Ruby was previously registered under the Iranian flag. Asphalt Star, meanwhile, was reportedly active on routes near China. Analysts say such route patterns often appear in sanction-evasion operations, where cargo is transferred ship-to-ship at sea and documentation is altered to obscure origin.
Officials briefly disclosed details of the seizure on X earlier this month before removing the post, though authorities have not explained the deletion.
Maritime enforcement experts note that sanctioned oil is frequently sold at discounted rates because of legal risks. To facilitate such trade, intermediaries may falsify paperwork, reflag vessels, or change ship names — tactics consistent with patterns investigators are examining in this case.
The probe remains ongoing, with agencies analyzing cargo samples, digital navigation logs, and ownership trails to determine whether the vessels violated international sanctions or maritime regulations.
.jpg)
