New Delhi on Saturday urged Tehran to grant consular access to the 16 Indian crew members onboard a tanker called the MT Valiant Roar (IMO: 9190078), which was seized by Iranian forces in December 2025.
The Aruban-flagged tanker was seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) based on suspicions of smuggling fuel, as per a Hindustan Times report.
Since then, the status of the vessel's 18-member crew has been unknown. In fact, its AIS data shows that the vessel last transmitted its position roughly a month ago.
Regarding detention of a Merchant Vessel (MT VALIANT ROAR) with Indian Crew members, by Iranian Authorities.@MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/9h1YV1rGd6
— India in Iran (@India_in_Iran) January 17, 2026
The Indian embassy in Iran claimed that it had been trying to gain consular access to the 16 Indians since December 14, but to no avail.
"The request for consular access has been repeated numerous times since then, both by diplomatic correspondence and in-person meetings in Bandar Abbas and Tehran, including at the level of the Ambassador," the Indian embassy said in a statement.
New Delhi added that it had also established contact with Glory International FZ-LLC, the UAE-based firm that manages the MT Valiant Roar.
It then contacted the Iran-based agents of the company—as well as the Iranian Navy—urging them to provide the vessel's crew with food, water, fuel (for the ship), and adequate legal representation in court.
The lack of information around the seizure has plunged the crew members' families into a state of panic, as the crew is expected to face the full force of Iranian law.
The anti-regime protests in the country have further complicated the issue, with at least 5,000 people confirmed dead in the tumult so far.
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