Iran seeks return of seized tankers from India

Iran has asked India to release three tankers seized in February as part of talks seeking the safe passage of Indian?flagged or India?bound vessels out of the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, three sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Indian authorities seized the three Iran?linked tankers near Indian waters, alleging they had concealed or altered their identities and were involved in illegal ship?to?ship transfers at sea.

Tehran has also sought supplies of certain medicines and medical equipment, according to one of the sources, an Iranian official.

Iran's ambassador to New Delhi met Indian foreign ministry officials on Monday to discuss the issue, the source said.

The sources declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

India's foreign ministry, the Iranian embassy in New Delhi, and Iran's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Iran recently allowed two Indian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers to pass through the strait, according to Indian officials, and one of them returned to western India on Monday. Traffic has ground to a near standstill on either side of the strait since the beginning of the war in Iran.

Asked about negotiations to ensure passage for Indian vessels, foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Monday that recent movements reflected a "history of engagement, of dealing with each other".

He told a daily news briefing that nothing was being exchanged.

Since the start of US and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February, Tehran has responded with attacks across the region, including on ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, killing three Indian sailors and leaving one missing.