India denies discussing release of tankers with Iran for Hormuz passage
The Straits Times
The seized tankers, Asphalt Star, Al Jafzia and Stellar Ruby, are currently docked off Mumbai. Read more at straitstimes.com.
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NEW DELHI - India on March 17 denied holding talks with Iran about releasing three tankers seized in February in exchange for ensuring safe passage for Indian ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Indian authorities seized the three Iran-linked ships near Indian waters, alleging they had concealed or altered their identities and were involved in illegal ship-to-ship transfers at sea.
Reuters reported on March 16, citing sources, that Iran had asked India to release the US-sanctioned ships as part of talks seeking the safe passage of Indian-flagged or India-bound vessels out of the Gulf via the Strait.
Traffic has ground to a near standstill on either side of the Strait since the beginning of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the report baseless.
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