New Delhi, Jan. 9 -- India on Friday said that it is closely monitoring reports of Indian nationals allegedly present on a Russian-flagged oil tanker recently seized by the United States in the North Atlantic Ocean after weeks of pursuit, noting that it is currently "ascertaining" the details of the nationals aboard the tanker.

During a weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We are closely following the developments and we are ascertaining further details of the Indian nationals who are supposed to be there on the oil tanker."

The MEA's remarks come after reports claimed that three Indian nationals were among the crew members aboard the Russian-flagged oil tanker seized by US milita...