Sri Lanka Says US Sanctions Are Global Amid Stranded Iranian Tankers
Sri Lanka says US secondary sanctions are part of a global policy as Iranian tankers remain stranded offshore amid concerns over providing them essential services.
Sri Lanka has said US secondary sanctions are part of a broader global policy and are not specifically targeted at the island nation, as Iranian tankers remain stranded off its coast.
The clarification came after reports that Washington had warned Colombo about allowing local companies to provide services to Iranian vessels facing shortages of food, fuel and fresh water.
Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Thushara Rodrigo said US measures announced in August could affect individuals or companies that provide services to vessels under American sanctions. He stressed that the policy applies globally rather than specifically to Sri Lanka.
Reports said around 20 empty Iranian oil tankers were positioned roughly 24 kilometres from Sri Lanka’s southwestern coast. The vessels are reportedly outside Sri Lanka’s 12-nautical-mile territorial waters, while authorities continue to monitor the situation.
The US Embassy in Colombo has also conducted training for Sri Lankan officials on identifying maritime sanctions evasion, including methods used to conceal vessel identities and movements.
The tankers are reportedly linked to Iranian oil shipments destined for Asian markets, particularly China. Sanctions and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz have complicated their movements.
For Sri Lankan companies, the situation presents an awkward choice: provide basic supplies to stranded ships or risk attracting US sanctions. Apparently, international shipping now comes with a compliance manual thicker than the ocean.
