Iran on Friday said that India’s crude oil carrier from Iraq being detained mid-sea was a non-political issue, while stating that the diplomatic channels of both the countries had got involved in sorting it out.
In a statement, Iran said, “This is purely a technical and non-political issue and the officials of the shipping authorities of the two countries are engaged in constructive and positive interaction to resolve it according to the international law as soon as possible.”
The diplomatic channels of two countries are also involved in supporting this interaction, added Iran.
“The detention of the above mentioned tanker took place only because of the warning issued by the Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (MEMAC) which is affiliated to the Regional Organisation for Protection of Maritime Environment (ROPME) in the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea,” Iran said.
Shipping Ministry sources told Business Line on Friday that the Ministry of External Affairs is in touch with its Iranian counterpart.
Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), which was carrying crude oil from Basra port in Iraq for HPCL to the Visakhapatnam port, maintained that it did not pollute the waters.
Incidentally, India has been reducing crude oil imports from Iran after the EU and US imposed sanctions, as a result of which shippers started facing problems in getting insurance for vessels carrying crude oil from Iran.