Sri Lankan authorities say the vessels remain in international waters and no illegal activity has been detected
COLOMBO: Sri Lankan maritime authorities are closely monitoring 11 Iranian oil tankers under US sanctions that have gathered off the island’s southern coast, as growing restrictions on Iranian shipping leave the vessels unable to return easily to Iranian ports.
The tankers have been detected near Galle, but officials say they remain outside Sri Lanka’s 12-nautical-mile territorial waters and therefore retain the right to navigate in international waters.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said Colombo had neither facilitated the vessels nor exercised control over them because they were operating outside the country's territorial jurisdiction.
Surveillance Operations Underway
Sri Lanka has deployed reconnaissance aircraft and patrol vessels to monitor the tankers from a distance.
A Sri Lankan military official said authorities had found no evidence so far of ship-to-ship oil transfers or illegal discharge of pollutants involving the vessels.
In the absence of such activity, officials said there was currently no legal basis for Sri Lankan authorities to take enforcement action against the ships.
The vessels have also not requested permission to enter Sri Lankan territorial waters.
Tankers Caught in Shipping Restrictions
The concentration of Iranian tankers near Sri Lanka comes amid intensified US restrictions on Iranian oil exports and shipping.
The vessels are reportedly in a difficult position because returning to Iranian ports could expose them to the consequences of the US blockade and sanctions regime. Other Iranian commercial vessels have reportedly moved farther east toward the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, while several have remained in waters close to Sri Lanka.
The development highlights the growing impact of Washington’s campaign against Iran's oil trade, with restrictions affecting not only Iranian ports but also the movement of vessels and international companies involved in Iranian-linked shipping.
Galle’s Significance
The presence of the Iranian vessels near Galle has an added sensitivity because the area was the scene of a major maritime incident earlier this year.
An Iranian naval frigate, IRIS Dena, was sunk near Galle in March after being struck by a US submarine, according to reports. Sri Lankan naval personnel rescued 32 Iranian sailors from the vessel, while the incident resulted in the deaths of 104 sailors.
The arrival of another group of Iranian vessels in the same broader maritime area has therefore attracted heightened attention from Sri Lankan authorities.
Colombo Says Washington Did Not Formally Notify It
Sri Lankan officials have also said that Washington had not formally notified Colombo about the Iranian-flagged vessels currently being monitored near the island.
That leaves Sri Lanka in a delicate position. The country is monitoring the sanctioned ships while maintaining that they are operating in international waters and that Colombo has no legal grounds to interfere with their navigation unless they violate Sri Lankan law or maritime regulations.
For now, authorities appear focused on surveillance rather than intervention.
Wider Impact of the Iran Shipping Crisis
The episode reflects the broader disruption facing Iranian shipping as the United States intensifies economic pressure on Tehran.
Washington has recently expanded sanctions targeting Iran-linked individuals, companies, vessels and networks involved in oil trading and other activities. The measures are designed to reduce Iran’s ability to generate revenue through international trade.
The pressure is already affecting Iranian oil flows into Asia. Recent reporting indicates that Iranian crude shipments and offers to Chinese buyers have declined sharply amid the US blockade, while oil stored at sea has also fallen.
For Sri Lanka, the immediate concern is maritime security and ensuring that the vessels do not engage in activities that could threaten its territorial waters or marine environment.
For Iran, however, the gathering of tankers off Sri Lanka illustrates the increasingly complicated routes its commercial fleet is being forced to navigate as sanctions and maritime restrictions tighten.
The 11 vessels remain outside Sri Lankan territorial waters for now, but their presence highlights how the expanding confrontation between Washington and Tehran is reshaping commercial shipping far beyond the Middle East.
— AALIMI NATION | International Affairs Desk
