It is reported that both Sri Lanka and India are facing a difficult dilemma following a warning issued by the United States, which advises against providing assistance to Iranian cargo vessels currently stranded without fuel or supplies in waters near Sri Lanka.
International media report that Iran has already requested India to intervene and rescue the crews, noting that Indian nationals are among those serving on these vessels. While India has yet to respond favorably, media outlets suggest that New Delhi cannot simply ignore the plight of its citizens stranded aboard these Iranian ships within its maritime region.
The Sri Lankan government has not yet issued any statement regarding these vessels, which are stranded within its Exclusive Economic Zone. In addition to Indians, the crews include nationals from Bangladesh. Iran has explicitly pointed out that, under international law, the relevant nations have a responsibility to provide relief to these individuals. This position of Iran was recently emphasized by the Iranian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Dr. Alireza Delkhosh. In a special statement, Ambassador Delkhosh pointed out that, under international conventions including Article 98 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue Sri Lanka cannot refrain from providing necessary facilities to Iranian vessels stranded within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
These vessels, which were returning after offloading crude oil a few months ago, are currently stranded within Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone, 12 miles off the coast of Galle. International media have been consistently reporting that the crews of these vessels are facing a serious threat to their lives due to a lack of fuel, food, and medicine. On March 4, 2026, an unarmed Iranian naval vessel, returning from India, was struck by a torpedo fired by the United States Navy in waters approximately 19 nautical miles off the coast of Galle. Nearly 100 Iranian nationals lost their lives in the attack.