The government of Sri Lanka has rejected a request from the Islamic Republic to deliver food and water to Iranian tankers that have been anchored outside the country's territorial waters for months since the US naval blockade was resumed. Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Vijitha Herath, in interviews published on Sunday, 4 October 2026, also denied that the United States had put any pressure on Colombo over the matter.
According to Sri Lanka's Sunday Times, 47 foreign vessels are anchored in international waters near the island, at least 15 of which have been positively identified as Iranian; the Daily Mirror newspaper put the number of Iranian vessels at around 19. According to these outlets, the vessels are empty tankers under US sanctions that cannot continue their voyage because of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Sri Lankan government's position and sanctions warning
Sri Lanka's foreign minister told the Sunday Times that the government has so far provided nothing to the tankers and has no intention of doing so, because they are outside its territorial waters and the government has no obligation to meet their needs. He warned private companies that supplying water, food or services to the vessels could expose them to US secondary sanctions, including the loss of business with the United States and exclusion from its banking system.
According to the Daily Mirror, Herath at the same time stressed that the United States had neither issued any directive nor exerted pressure on the Sri Lankan government on the issue, and that Colombo defends its sovereignty and independence. The Sunday Times noted that the US embassy recently held workshops on maritime sanctions for more than 40 Sri Lankan officials.
At least 15 Iranian tankers have been stranded near Sri Lanka for months, and Colombo refuses to supply them with food and water.
Impact of the naval blockade on the Islamic Republic's oil
US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces resumed the naval blockade of Iranian ports in the summer and, according to the command, had redirected 125 commercial vessels as of 30 September 2026. As a result of the blockade, the Islamic Republic's oil exports have effectively stopped, and the US Treasury has also recently warned that foreign banks working with Iranian banks may be sanctioned without notice. Sri Lanka's rejection of Tehran's request shows that third countries are also distancing themselves from the Islamic Republic's sanctioned oil fleet to avoid secondary sanctions.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first.