Eight Indian seafarers detained in Iran since December have finally returned home after a prolonged and traumatic ordeal that was further delayed by the outbreak of war in West Asia.
The men were part of an 18-member crew aboard the MT Valiant Roar, a vessel seized by Iranian authorities on Dec 8 while in international waters. Iran alleged the ship was involved in fuel smuggling, a claim denied by its Dubai-based operator, Prime Tankers LLC.
The crew comprised 16 Indians and one sailor each from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Eight Indians had earlier returned home on Feb 10, but the remaining eight were unable to leave after their release orders came only on Feb 27 – just a day before the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, triggering retaliatory attacks and widespread disruption across the region.
The delay turned relief into renewed fear.
Captain Vijay Kumar said the crew initially believed their ordeal was ending, only to find themselves trapped again as the conflict intensified. Some of the sailors had been held in jail in Bandar Abbas, while others remained confined to the vessel, which was docked near an Iranian naval facility.
“We could only watch helplessly as missiles fell around us through the night,” he said.
Iranian authorities had removed key navigation and safety equipment from the vessel, making it impossible for the sailors to move it to a safer location. On March 3, the Indian embassy in Tehran evacuated the crew from the ship and arranged hotel accommodation for them in the city.
But safety remained elusive.
Crew members said missile strikes near the hotel shook the building day and night, leaving them exhausted and terrified. Engineer Ketan Mehta described the period as one of constant fear, while chief engineer Anil Kumar Singh said “every moment felt close to death”.
Eventually, with no clear sign of the conflict easing, the sailors decided to leave Iran by land. On March 15, they began a difficult journey towards Armenia, travelling through areas still affected by the war. They took shelter in Jolfa, near the Armenian border, for three days while waiting for visas.
The group finally crossed into Armenia on March 27, travelled to Yerevan and spent a night there before flying to Dubai and then onward to Mumbai, arriving in the early hours of March 29. The Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi crew members also flew home from Armenia.
For some, the emotional toll remains heavy. Crew member Masood Alam, who had been due to get married after Eid, said the ceremony had to be postponed because of the crisis. His family has now resumed preparations and a new wedding date is expected to be fixed soon.
Some of the returning sailors also said they had not been paid for several months and were uncertain about whether they would work again with the company. Prime Tankers owner Jugwinder Brar has denied those claims.
For now, though, the overwhelming feeling is relief. After months of detention, war and uncertainty, the men are finally back on home soil.
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2 Apr 2026 20:08
