20 Iranian tankers stranded off Sri Lanka
20 Iranian tankers stranded off Sri Lanka
2026-08-26
Shafaq News – Follow-up
Around 20 Iranian oil tankers are stranded off the coast of Sri Lanka, unable to return to Iranian ports, due to the US naval blockade imposed on shipping to and from Iran.
Ship tracking data showed 13 Iranian-flagged tankers near the outer borders of Sri Lankan territorial waters, along with tankers linked to what is known as the “shadow fleet” used by Tehran to circumvent sanctions.
Sameer Madani, co-founder of the maritime intelligence firm TankerTrackers, said that a fleet of about 20 Iranian state-owned tankers, all empty, had chosen to take refuge inside Sri Lanka’s economic zone.
According to ship tracking data, the tankers’ draft levels indicate that they are not carrying oil shipments, suggesting that they were en route to Iran to load new shipments before US measures prevented their return.
The tankers are positioned near the boundary of Sri Lankan territorial waters, which extends 12 nautical miles from the coast, to avoid approaching Iranian waters for fear of being intercepted or targeted.
These developments come amid continued US restrictions on the movement of ships linked to Iranian ports, amid increasing repercussions for the movement of Iranian oil exports and Tehran’s naval fleet.
The region has gained additional importance following the sinking of the Iranian frigate “Dena” by a US submarine last March, about 19 nautical miles off the coast of Sri Lanka.
The US Central Command had resumed on July 14 the blockade of ships entering and leaving Iranian ports, after it had been implemented for the first time between April 13 and June 18.
shafaq.com
