"Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) are pursuing my vessel with 18 crew members in international waters."
These were the trembling words of the Valiant Roar tanker commander on December 8 near UAE, as he informed his brother, Captain Vinod Parmar. Before they could finish their call, the line abruptly disconnected.
According to the sailors' families, following this, the Iranian Navy fired shots unprovoked, seized the tanker, and ten crew members went missing. Even after a month and a half, they remain cut off from their families and the outside world, with recent conflicts in Iran escalating tensions further.
India Today conversed with the families of the Indian crew members, who endure a painful wait with each passing day. With minimal assistance from the Indian government and embassy in Iran, hope seems faint. The ongoing protests against Khamenei's regime and internet shutdowns have exacerbated the situation, leaving families with no choice but to file a plea in the Delhi High Court. The court has directed the central government to file a status report.
Source: aajtak
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A Journey Turned Nightmare...
This saga began on the afternoon of December 8, 2025. The Valiant Roar tanker, operated by Dubai-based Glory International FZ LLC, was traversing international waters near UAE's Dibba Port. For the first time, the tanker set sail after docking due to technical issues with her sister vessel, MT Coral Wave, shared Captain Parmar with India Today. The crew comprised sixteen Indians, a Sri Lankan, and a Bangladeshi.
Captain Parmar recounted spotting the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Iran's most powerful armed forces unit, trailing their ship when it was headed towards Khor Fakkan in UAE for technical assistance. This occurred while the tanker was in international waters.
Among those on board was Anil Kumar Singh, the ship's Chief Officer. Recollecting the incident, Anil's wife Gayatri recounted the alarming call she received from her husband on December 8, around 3 PM, when she could hear gunfire in the background.
Gayatri relayed to India Today, "When I spoke to my husband on the morning of December 8, everything seemed fine. Then, at about 3 PM, he called, saying the Iranian Navy was chasing them. Shortly after, I heard gunshots, and the call got disconnected."
Source: aajtak
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Describing the events recalled by his brother, Captain Parmar noted that the gunfire evidently damaged the tanker and injured some crew members. What followed was a nightmare for the crew. Iranian naval officers boarded the ship, assaulted, and took the crew hostage.
Iran accused the ship of smuggling six million liters of diesel. However, Captain Parmar asserted that the tanker only carried Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (VLSFO). Despite rejecting the sample analysis report confirming it was VLSFO, Iranians forcibly seized the vessel, directing it towards Bandar-e-Jask, a key Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman.
Locked in a Single Room, Phones Confiscated
Confined to a single room, the crew's plight intensified. "All 18 crew members were locked in the ship's mess room and only permitted restroom use under armed guard supervision," Captain Parmar disclosed. Mobile phones, laptops, and other devices were confiscated, with only the ship's captain allowed brief calls daily.
The crew's families highlighted the lack of formal detention orders or reasons for seizure from Iranian officials. Interestingly, both India and Iran are signatories to the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006, governing seafarers' rights.
Source: aajtak
Amid scarce communication, families first reached out to the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) on December 12. Subsequently, the matter was escalated to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the embassy in Tehran. The MEA confirmed awareness of the situation, endeavoring to facilitate the sailors' release.
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On December 17, further contact ensued. The Indian embassy in Tehran advised families to liaise with the consulate in Bandar Abbas, overseeing Bandar-e-Jask. However, hopes of positive news dwindled as Iranian authorities repeatedly denied requests for access to the Indian crew.
On January 6, the situation took a grave turn. Ten out of eighteen crew members were taken inland, purportedly to record statements, only to be arrested and transported to Bandar Abbas jail. The detainees included Chief Officer Anil Singh, a second engineer, and several junior engineers.
That same evening, Gayatri received a brief minute-long call from her husband. The Chief Officer disclosed that their incarceration was under false smuggling charges with nine others, and no further communication has been received since.
Tearfully, Gayatri added, "My son has sent 20-25 emails to the PMO for help, but there's been no response. I've barely slept in 45 days." She implores her message reaches Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar.
Source: aajtak
Read also: Iran's 'Himalayas'... Uncrossed Lands by Any Foe, Can They Shield Khamenei's Army?
Slow Progress on the Ground
Progress has been sluggish on the ground, leaving the crew's families dangling between hope and despair. Though Gayatri managed to speak with her husband, third engineer Ketan Mehta's family remains in the dark.
Ketan's sister, Shivani Mehta, shared that they haven't contacted him since Iran seized the ship, only learning about the incident from the ship's operator when Ketan was jailed in January.
Shivani told India Today, "All we know is that he's no longer aboard the ship and was taken by Iranian authorities." This revelation hit Ketan's heart-suffering mother hard, requiring hospitalization for a period. The eldest of three siblings, Ketan is the sole breadwinner of the family.
She added, "The daily news of rising tensions in Iran worries us. This stress has severely impacted our mother's health."
Source: aajtak
Aboard the ship, the remaining eight crew members struggle to survive with little or no food. Captain Parmar's brother relayed that Iranian authorities provided only water, as they subsist on lentils and rice.
He noted, "Food stocks are nearly depleted, with rations perhaps lasting two or three more days." This was the last message from his brother.
The protracted detention amidst rumors of violence and war in Iran has substantially impacted the crew psychologically, said Captain Parmar, and the ordeal has taken a heavy emotional toll on them.
On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs announced preparations to repatriate Indian citizens stranded in Iran, with evacuation flights potentially deployed soon. Families hope their husbands and brothers will be among those returning home.
