Source TOI
NEW DELHI – The Indian government has intensified diplomatic efforts to secure consular access to 16 Indian crew members currently detained by Iranian authorities. In an official statement released on Saturday, January 17, 2026, the Indian Embassy in Tehran confirmed that the sailors, who were aboard the merchant vessel MT Valiant Roar, are now subject to Iran’s judicial process.
The vessel was intercepted by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on December 8, 2025, in international waters near Dibba Port, off the coast of the UAE. Iranian authorities have accused the crew of involvement in smuggling approximately 6,000 metric tonnes of fuel.
Diplomatic Engagement and Welfare Concerns
According to the Embassy, the Consulate of India in Bandar Abbas first sought consular access on December 14, just days after the detention. Despite numerous follow-up meetings at the ambassadorial level and through formal diplomatic correspondence in both Tehran and Bandar Abbas, access has yet to be granted.
The mission has highlighted several key actions taken to support the seafarers:
Emergency Provisions: After being alerted to depleting food and water stocks on the vessel, the Indian Mission intervened with the Iranian Navy to facilitate emergency supplies in early January.
Family Communication: India has repeatedly requested that Iranian authorities allow the detained sailors to communicate with their families back home.
Legal Aid: The Indian Consulate in Dubai is engaging with the UAE-based ship-owning company to ensure the crew is provided with adequate legal representation in Iranian courts.
Families Appeal for Intervention
The detention has caused significant distress for the families of the crew. Among those held is Third Engineer Ketan Mehta. His father, Mukesh Mehta, recently made an emotional appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the family has been living in “constant anxiety” since the arrest of 10 crew members was confirmed.
“The sailors were performing their professional duties and are innocent of these allegations,” the families stated in a collective plea for urgent diplomatic intervention.
Judicial Outlook
While the Indian Embassy noted that the matter is “expected to be subject to judicial process in Iran,” they emphasized that they are pressing for the expeditious completion of these proceedings.
The case has also reached the Delhi High Court, which on Friday sought a response from the Centre regarding the “arbitrary and illegal” detention of the seafarers, noting that they have been held for over 30 days without formal charges or consular assistance.
