To the great relief of the Indian government, Iran has finally decided to release Indian oil tanker MT Desh Shanti, which was under its detention since August 12. The ship’s prolonged detention was threatening to sour bilateral relations ties betwene two countries who have traditionally shared warm ties.
The ship was detained by the Iranians on the grounds that it was causing environmental pollution. The crude carrying shipping vessel was heading towards India from Basra in Iraq when it was seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the Persian Gulf. The ship was then asked to move to the Bandar Abbas port where it had reamined berthed for the last 24-days as India tried to get it released. The release has only happened after India apparently told Iran that the ship’s detention transgressed the UN Convention of Laws of the Seas and other international conventions and warned Iran that the action would have serious ramifications. In a strong-worded letter to the Iranian director general, safety and marine protection, India had said: “We, the Indian administration, strongly object to this colourable exercise of power.”