In a relief for anxious families across India, eight Indian sailors out of 16 detained by Iran’s IRGC have received the green light for release. The MT Valiant Roar, a UAE-flagged oil tanker nabbed in international waters last December, had kept the nation on edge since the dramatic seizure.
Speaking at a packed press conference in New Delhi on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal detailed the progress. ‘Consular access was granted. Our Bandar Abbas consulate officials met them. Iranian side confirms eight are freed; they’ll head home post-formalities. For the rest, we’re actively engaging Tehran with full support promised,’ he stated firmly.
The tanker’s capture unfolded in the first week of December 2024 near UAE waters, ensnaring the all-Indian crew in a web of legal and logistical snarls. Tehran’s Indian mission learned of it mid-month and wasted no time, formally requesting access that very day—December 14. Follow-up came via relentless diplomatic channels, including high-level ambassadorial discussions.
Beyond access pleas, the embassy advocated for family calls and monitored onboard conditions closely. With supplies running low by late December, swift intervention ensured emergency food and water deliveries in January, courtesy of Iranian naval assistance. Pressure mounted on the Dubai-headquartered owners to arrange court lawyers and ongoing provisions, bolstered by interventions from the Indian consulate in Dubai.
This partial victory highlights India’s robust diplomatic machinery at work. Jaiswal’s briefing painted a picture of coordinated resolve—from grassroots consular visits to top-tier negotiations. As the released eight near freedom, the focus sharpens on expediting the same for their comrades, proving once again that quiet persistence often trumps headlines in international rescues.
