Release of 10 Indian Sailors After Their Detention in Iran

Indian maritime authorities announced Tuesday evening that Iran, after "intense diplomatic efforts," released ten Indian sailors it had been holding since July following their arrest aboard an oil tanker.

The Indian Directorate General of Shipping stated in a statement that the crew of the oil tanker "MV Harbour Phoenix" had been "detained, arrested, and imprisoned in Iran after the vessel was intercepted near the port of Jask in July 2025."

It added, "The sailors have now been released," noting that "coordination is currently underway for the return of the crew members to India as soon as possible."

New Delhi and Tehran have established diplomatic and trade relations, especially in the energy sector, but New Delhi balances them with its close ties to the United States and Israel.

Iranian forces regularly announce the interception of ships they claim are transporting fuel illegally in the Arabian Gulf.

No further details were provided about the reason for their arrest or information about the vessel, which ship tracking sites indicate is an oil products tanker flying the flag of Palau.

India has one of the largest workforces aboard commercial ships in the world, with thousands of them working on shipping lines in the Gulf.

Iran has imposed restrictions on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes, since the United States and Israel launched attacks on it on February 28.

India, the world's third-largest oil importer, imports about half of its crude oil needs through the Strait of Hormuz.