Sri Lanka Monitors 11 Sanctioned Iranian Tankers Off Coast

The Government of Sri Lanka is monitoring 11 Iranian oil tankers positioned off its southern coast near Galle harbor. The vessels are under United States sanctions and are currently unable to return to Iran because of a US blockade on ships using Iranian ports.

Sri Lankan military forces have deployed reconnaissance aircraft and patrol boats to track the fleet, which remains outside the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit. Authorities report no evidence of ship-to-ship oil transfers or illegal pollutant discharge that would warrant intervention. The presence of the fleet occurs near the site where a US submarine sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in March, an incident that caused 104 deaths.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath stated that the ships are in international waters and possess freedom of navigation. He clarified that Sri Lanka has neither hold over nor has it facilitated the vessels. Officials further noted that the United States has not formally notified Colombo regarding the presence of the sanctioned Iranian-flagged ships.