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 in waters near Sri Lanka due to a lack of fuel and supplies.
International media outlets report that Iran has already requested India to intervene and rescue the crews, noting that Indian nationals are among those serving on these vessels. Although India has yet to respond favorably, media reports suggest that it cannot simply ignore the precarious situation faced by the Indian seafarers aboard these Iranian ships stranded within its region. The Government of Sri Lanka has not yet issued any statement regarding these vessels, which are stranded within its Exclusive Economic Zone. In addition to Indian nationals, the crews of these vessels also include citizens of Bangladesh. Iran has clearly indicated that, under international law, the relevant nations are obligated to provide assistance to these individuals.
This position was recently emphasized by the Iranian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Dr. Alireza Delkhosh. In a special statement, Ambassador Delkhosh pointed out that, in accordance with international conventions specifically Article 98 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as 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 the necessary assistance to the Iranian vessels stranded within its Exclusive Economic Zone. This group of vessels, which was returning after offloading crude oil a few months ago, is currently stranded within Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone, 12 miles off the coast of Galle. International media outlets have been consistently reporting that the crews of these vessels are facing a grave threat to their lives due to a lack of fuel, food, and medicine.
On March 4, 2026, the United States Navy launched a torpedo attack on an unarmed Iranian naval vessel which was returning from India in waters approximately 19 nautical miles off the coast of Galle. Nearly 100 Iranian nationals lost their lives in this attack.