On December 8, 2025, the merchant vessel MT Valiant Roar, carrying 16 Indian sailors (initially 18 crew members, including Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi nationals), was seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in international waters near the UAE's Dibba Port. Reports from family members indicate that the vessel was subjected to a mid-sea chase, during which Iranian forces allegedly fired upon it, causing damage and injuries to some crew members. The Iranian authorities have accused the ship of smuggling approximately 6,000 metric tonnes of fuel, a charge disputed by the vessel's operators who claim it was carrying very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO). Following the seizure, the crew's phones and devices were confiscated, and communication with their families was severely restricted. Initially, consular access was denied by Iran. The situation escalated when, on January 6, ten of the crew members were taken ashore on the pretext of recording statements but were subsequently arrested and imprisoned in Bandar Abbas. Families of the detained sailors have expressed immense distress and have appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for urgent diplomatic intervention to secure their loved ones' release. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed its awareness of the situation and stated that efforts are underway to facilitate the release of the seafarers. This incident underscores the ongoing risks faced by Indian seafarers in volatile maritime regions and highlights the complexities of maritime disputes with Iran.