New Delhi, March 16 The government on Monday dismissed reports that Tehran is seeking the release of three oil tankers seized by India in exchange for ensuring safe passage for Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Top sources in the government said the report was baseless, adding that there had been no such discussions between Indian and Iranian authorities.
In any case, the three vessels are not Iranian-owned, the sources said.
India's coastal authorities reportedly seized three US-sanctioned oil tankers with alleged links to Iran.
New Delhi has been in contact with Tehran to ensure the safe transit of over 20 Indian-flagged merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Two Indian-flagged LPG carriers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, carrying 92,712 metric tonnes of LPG, crossed the Strait of Hormuz early on Saturday following negotiations between the two sides.
Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles approximately 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).