Around 20 Iranian fuel-carrying vessels are reportedly anchored near Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), seeking safety amid a blockade imposed by the US military in the Strait of Hormuz, which is preventing vessels from reaching Iranian ports. This was revealed by an analysis of international maritime intelligence carried out by the website TankerTrackers.

The Financial Times has also reported, citing the analysis, that 13 Iranian-flagged fuel tankers and several other Iranian vessels are anchored near Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

TankerTrackers co-founder Samir Madani has said that most of the vessels currently remaining near Sri Lanka’s EEZ are believed to be waiting in the hope of eventually returning to Iran to take on fuel. He said the vessels had moved towards the vicinity of Sri Lanka’s EEZ seeking protection amid fears that they could come under attack.

However, Madani stressed that Sri Lanka is not providing facilities for these vessels.

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that although the country is aware of all these vessels, they are anchored outside the boundaries of Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone and, therefore, Sri Lanka has no obligations in relation to them.

Data records also indicate that, owing to the blockade imposed by the United States using warships to prevent vessels from reaching Iranian ports, no oil has been loaded at Iran’s Kharg Island for destinations outside the Gulf region since the second week of July.

The data further show that the US naval blockade has attacked more than 20 Iranian vessels over the past six months.

The data records also indicate that the US military blockade has turned back more than 75 other merchant vessels that had attempted to reach Iranian ports.

Against this backdrop, maritime trade data indicate that Iranian vessels are remaining in waters near Sri Lanka and Pakistan, seeking safety until they are able to sail back to Iranian ports.

Given Sri Lanka’s strategically important maritime location, the international attention being focused on Sri Lankan waters amid the conflicts in the Middle East and US sanctions against Iran is particularly noteworthy.

TankerTrackers is a maritime intelligence analysis organisation.