'Baseless and mischievous': Adani Group denies handling any Iranian cargo; says not aware of any US investigation into Iran sanctions violations

The Adani Group issued a statement on Monday clarifying that none of its ports process cargo originating from Iran or vessels under Iranian ownership, rejecting allegations of intentional sanctions violations.The Adani Group submitted a filing to the stock exchange, dismissing claims about connections between its entities and Iranian LPG as ‘baseless and mischievous’.This statement came after the Wall Street Journal published a report indicating that US prosecutors were looking into potential imports of Iranian LPG by Adani companies through their Gujarat-based Mundra port.The business conglomerate emphasised in its filing that their policy explicitly prohibits handling any Iranian cargo at their port facilities, including shipments from Iran or vessels flying Iranian flags.The group further specified that their operational policy excludes management or facilitation of any vessels owned by Iranian entities, a rule strictly enforced across all their port operations.The Wall Street Journal's investigation alleged that vessels moving between Mundra and the Persian Gulf showed patterns that specialists associate with sanctions evasion.Trading in Iranian petroleum or its derivatives faces restrictions due to concerns about Tehran's nuclear activities.

The Adani group firmly rejected these allegations as "baseless and mischievous", stating it "categorically denies any deliberate engagement in sanctions evasion or trade involving Iranian-origin LPG".The organisation further stated it had no knowledge of any US authorities conducting investigations on this matter.According to the group, the published report relied on unfounded suppositions and conjecture."Any suggestion that Adani Group entities are knowingly in contravention of US sanctions on Iran is strongly denied. Any assertion to the contrary would not only be slanderous but also deemed to be an intentional act to injure the reputation and interests of the Adani Group. The rights of Adani Group entities and personnel in this regard are expressly reserved," the statement concluded.