On December 8, 2025, the Indian merchant tankerValiant Roar, carrying 16 Indian crew members along with a Sri Lankan and a Bangladeshi, was chased and fired upon by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in international waters near the UAE. The unprovoked attack caused damage to the vessel and injuries to some crew members, after which the IRGC seized the tanker and took the crew hostage, claiming the ship was smuggling diesel, though it was carrying only very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO). Ten crew members, including the chief officer Anil Singh and several engineers, were later taken to Bandar Abbas prison, while the remaining eight remain confined on the vessel under strict supervision, with food and communication severely restricted.
Families of the crew have faced weeks of agonizing uncertainty, with limited contact and no formal detention orders from Iranian authorities. Efforts by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the embassy in Tehran have so far yielded slow progress, and consular access has been repeatedly denied. The ongoing violent unrest in Iran, coupled with an internet blackout, has further complicated communication and relief efforts. Families have approached the Delhi High Court seeking urgent intervention, while the MEA has now indicated that evacuation flights may be arranged to bring stranded Indian nationals home.
Onboard, the eight remaining sailors are surviving on minimal rations of rice, dal, and water, with supplies expected to last only a few more days. The prolonged detention and uncertainty have taken a severe mental toll on the crew, while families continue to appeal for government intervention to secure their safe return amid rising tensions in Iran.
