Kamal Ghorui
Two supertankers carrying Iranian crude have anchored off India’s eastern and western coasts, marking a potential resumption of such imports after nearly seven years, even as the US steps up efforts to restrict Tehran’s oil exports.Ship-tracking data, cited by Bloomberg show that the Felicity, a very large crude carrier owned by the National Iranian Tanker Company, dropped anchor off Sikka on the Gujarat coast late Sunday. The vessel is carrying approximately 2 million barrels of crude loaded from Kharg Island in mid-March.Another tanker, Jaya, signalled that it had moored near Paradip on Odisha’s coast around the same time. The vessel had lifted a similar volume of crude from Kharg Island in late February, before hostilities escalated between Iran, the US and Israel. Ownership details of Jaya remain unclear, a pattern often associated with so-called “shadow fleet” tankers used in sanctioned trades.India has not imported Iranian oil since 2019 due to US sanctions. However, a recent waiver issued by Washington allowed the purchase of cargoes already in transit, aimed at cushioning global supply disruptions triggered by the ongoing conflict in Middle East. As the world’s third-largest crude importer, India has indicated it may diversify sourcing, including limited purchases from Iran, to manage volatility in energy markets.While the buyers of these cargoes have not been officially disclosed, Paradip port is primarily used by Indian Oil Corporation, which recently confirmed purchasing at least one Iranian cargo under the waiver. Sikka, meanwhile, is a key crude handling point for Reliance Industries and Bharat Petroleum Corporation, both of which operate infrastructure in the region.The arrival of these shipments signals a cautious re-entry of Iranian crude into India’s energy mix, even as geopolitical risks and regulatory uncertainties continue to shape trade flows.The development comes amid uncertainty over US President Donald Trump’s proposed blockade of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a move aimed at curbing Iranian oil flows following the collapse of recent peace talks. It remains unclear how this plan could affect the waiver or ongoing shipments.
