‘Factually incorrect’: Govt slams reports of Iran oil cargo diversion

New Delhi, April 4
The government on Saturday dismissed reports and social media claims that an Iranian crude oil cargo was diverted from Vadinar in India to China due to payment issues, calling them “factually incorrect” and misleading.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has clarified that recent reports suggesting India lost an Iranian oil shipment due to payment problems are not true.

The government said India imports crude oil from more than 40 countries, and oil companies have full flexibility to choose suppliers based on commercial needs.

“The news reports and social media posts of an Iranian crude cargo being diverted from Vadinar, India to China due to ‘payment issues’ are factually incorrect,” the ministry said in a post on X.

“India imports crude oil from over 40 countries, with companies having full flexibility to source oil from different sources and geographies based on commercial considerations,” it added.

The clarification comes after reports claimed that a US-sanctioned tanker carrying Iranian crude, named Ping Shun, changed its route from Vadinar in Gujarat to Dongying in China.

According to ship tracking data, the vessel was initially headed towards India but later altered its destination, sparking speculation that payment issues may have caused the diversion.

Market analysts had suggested that stricter payment terms from sellers could be behind the sudden change in route.

However, the government has rejected this claim, stating that there is no payment hurdle for importing crude oil from Iran and that such rumours are misleading.

The ministry also reassured that despite ongoing supply disruptions in the Middle East, Indian refiners have already secured their crude oil requirements for the coming months, including supplies from Iran.

“Claims on vessel diversion ignore how oil trade works. Bills of Lading often carry indicative discharge ports destinations and on-sea cargoes can change destinations mid-voyage based on trade optimisation and operational flexibility,” the ministry stated.

Addressing separate claims regarding LPG supplies, the government said reports were inaccurate.

It confirmed that an LPG vessel, Sea Bird, carrying around 44 thousand metric tonnes of Iranian LPG, arrived at Mangalore on April 2 and is currently unloading its cargo