At least 40 Iranian sailors aboard US-sanctioned oil tankers anchored off Sri Lanka have sought urgent medical treatment on the island, officials said on Sunday, as vessels remain stranded amid restrictions linked to a US blockade.
The merchant sailors were brought ashore through the port of Galle, about 115 kilometres south of the capital, Colombo, over the weekend, according to officials.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that it had coordinated the transfer of the sailors from the vessels to shore to ensure they could receive medical care.
“We have coordinated the transfer and carried out our humanitarian obligations,” ministry spokesman Thushara Rodrigo told AFP. He added that the costs of the operation were covered by the Iranian embassy.
Nearly a dozen empty Iranian oil tankers are anchored near Galle harbour, authorities said. The vessels remain close to Sri Lankan waters as Iranian shipping faces difficulties returning to home ports because of restrictions imposed by Washington.
Sri Lanka has maintained that the tankers are positioned in international waters, outside the country’s 12-nautical-mile territorial limit, where freedom of navigation applies.
The Sri Lankan military has deployed reconnaissance aircraft and patrol boats to monitor the vessels, according to defence officials. The surveillance is intended to track activity around the ships while they remain outside the country’s territorial waters.
The latest development follows a deadly incident in March, when a US submarine sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in nearby international waters, killing 104 sailors.
Sri Lanka’s navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from the frigate. A second Iranian naval vessel has also sought safe harbour at Trincomalee, on the island’s northeastern coast.
The incidents have placed Sri Lanka in a sensitive position as it responds to humanitarian needs involving Iranian personnel while maintaining its stated position on maritime navigation and territorial jurisdiction.
Iranian merchant vessels have faced uncertainty over their movements because of US sanctions and the blockade affecting Iranian shipping. Some have remained near Sri Lanka, while others have moved east towards the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, authorities said.
The medical transfers highlight the challenges faced by crews aboard vessels unable to return to their intended destinations. Sri Lankan officials have not provided further details about the medical conditions of the sailors or how long they may remain on the island.
Sri Lanka’s handling of the transfers reflects its decision to provide urgent medical assistance while continuing to monitor Iranian vessels operating in nearby international waters.
