In a clear tit-for-tat, suggesting worsening of the diplomatic standoff between the two nations, Iran summoned Indian ambassador D P Shrivastava in Tehran and protested detention of an Iranian cargo vessel for “unknown reasons” by the Indian authorities.
The envoy was called in by the Iranian foreign ministry within 24 hours of India registering a strong protest with the Iranian envoy here for the “illegal detention” of an oil tanker, Desh Shanti, that was carrying Iraqi crude when it was boarded by Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) in international waters.
The summoning of the Indian ambassador has largely confirmed New Delhi’s fears that Iran’s allegations about Desh Shanti polluting Iranian waters may be a mere smokescreen for illegally taking possession of the vessel. According to reports in the Iranian media on Thursday, an Iranian merchant vessel, Diyanat, was detained by Indian authorities around 18 months ago and it has remained stationed at Mundra port in Gulf of Kutch. Iran’s deputy foreign minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi is reported to have demanded immediate release of the vessel and also asked the Indian envoy to ensure that its crew members are not subjected to any “mistreatment”.
Indian authorities, however, countered this saying the Iranian ship had remained at Mundra because it had fallen foul of international admiralty and maritime laws. The ship owners are said to be locked in a dispute with a firm based in a south-east Asian country and needs to pay a certain amount of money to the company before it is released.
“This has hardly got anything to do with India,” said a source, adding that Indian authorities have also allowed replacement of Diyanat crew several times since the ship docked at Mundra.
The envoy was called in by the Iranian foreign ministry within 24 hours of India registering a strong protest with the Iranian envoy here for the “illegal detention” of an oil tanker, Desh Shanti, that was carrying Iraqi crude when it was boarded by Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) in international waters.
The summoning of the Indian ambassador has largely confirmed New Delhi’s fears that Iran’s allegations about Desh Shanti polluting Iranian waters may be a mere smokescreen for illegally taking possession of the vessel. According to reports in the Iranian media on Thursday, an Iranian merchant vessel, Diyanat, was detained by Indian authorities around 18 months ago and it has remained stationed at Mundra port in Gulf of Kutch. Iran’s deputy foreign minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi is reported to have demanded immediate release of the vessel and also asked the Indian envoy to ensure that its crew members are not subjected to any “mistreatment”.
Indian authorities, however, countered this saying the Iranian ship had remained at Mundra because it had fallen foul of international admiralty and maritime laws. The ship owners are said to be locked in a dispute with a firm based in a south-east Asian country and needs to pay a certain amount of money to the company before it is released.
“This has hardly got anything to do with India,” said a source, adding that Indian authorities have also allowed replacement of Diyanat crew several times since the ship docked at Mundra.
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