{"id":195126,"date":"2026-02-17T12:32:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T07:32:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/?p=195126"},"modified":"2026-02-17T12:32:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T07:32:11","slug":"india-acts-more-loyal-than-the-king-seizes-us-sanctioned-iranian-tankers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/2026\/02\/17\/india-acts-more-loyal-than-the-king-seizes-us-sanctioned-iranian-tankers.html","title":{"rendered":"India acts \u2018more loyal than the king\u2019, seizes US-sanctioned Iranian tankers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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New Delhi: India has seized three oil tankers\u2014Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star, and Al Jafzia\u2014linked to Iran and previously sanctioned by the United States, in what analysts describe as a demonstration of India acting \u201cmore loyal than the king\u201d in advancing Washington\u2019s geopolitical agenda.<\/p>\n

According to Kashmir Media Service, the vessels were intercepted about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai on suspicion of masking the origin of oil cargoes through ship-to-ship transfers. The Indian Coast Guard deployed around 55 ships and 10\u201312 aircraft for continuous surveillance to enforce the seizures.<\/p>\n

Observers note that the action comes amid warming US-India relations, including Washington\u2019s recent reduction of import tariffs on Indian goods, reflecting India\u2019s alignment with US interests even at the cost of its traditional strategic ties with Iran.<\/p>\n

The National Iranian Oil Company has denied any connection to the tankers or their cargoes, while the US Office of Foreign Assets Control had previously sanctioned the vessels, citing their involvement in illicit oil trade. Analysts say India\u2019s move underscores its willingness to prioritize American directives, further exposing its role in international geopolitics as a partner willing to act \u201cmore loyal than the king.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New Delhi: India has seized three oil tankers\u2014Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star, and Al Jafzia\u2014linked to Iran and previously sanctioned by the United States, in what analysts describe as a demonstration of India acting \u201cmore loyal than the king\u201d in advancing Washington\u2019s geopolitical agenda. According to Kashmir Media Service, the vessels were intercepted about 100 nautical …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":195127,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-195126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-india"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t