Ten Indian seafarers detained in Iran for nearly 10 months after the interception of the tanker Harbour Phoenix have been released and are preparing to return home, Indian authorities confirmed.
India’s Directorate General of Shipping said the sailors had been detained, arrested and imprisoned following the seizure of the product tanker near Jask Port in July 2025.
MV Harbour Phoenix, a 7,628 dwt product tanker built in 1994, is managed from the UAE and registered in Palau. Iranian authorities intercepted the vessel about 23 nautical miles off Kuh-e Mobarak near Jask during a broader crackdown on alleged fuel smuggling in the region.
Iranian border police and naval forces claimed the tanker was carrying more than 2 million litres of diesel fuel, reportedly valued at around $1.8 million. Tehran had intensified enforcement against fuel smuggling throughout 2025, warning that crews involved could face prosecution and lengthy prison terms.
According to Indian officials, the release followed months of diplomatic engagement involving the Directorate General of Shipping, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, India’s embassy in Tehran, vessel managers and other stakeholders.“The seafarers have now been released and reunited safely,” the Directorate General of Shipping said in a statement, adding that arrangements are underway for their earliest return to India
