Sri Lanka, India caught in US-Iran ship crisis
By Shamindra Ferdinando Iran has sought the Indian intervention, at the highest level, to provide lifesaving support to the crews of empty Iranian vessels stranded just outside Sri Lanka’s 12-nautical mile territorial waters off Galle. Sources familiar with the issue said that Iran had brought the developing situation to the attention of New Delhi as […]
A crisis unfolded between the United States and Iran involving stranded Iranian vessels in Sri Lankan waters, prompting India to intervene. Iran had reached out to India at the highest level to provide assistance to the crews of nearly 20 Iranian vessels stranded outside Sri Lanka’s 12-nautical mile territorial waters off Galle.
The US Navy had unprovokedly attacked an unarmed Iran frigate, killing nearly 100 Iranians on 04 March, 2026, about 19 nautical miles off the Galle coast. The US has cautioned against providing any aid to the Iranian vessels in the region. India found itself in a dilemma as it couldn't ignore the plight of the Indian crew members and the Iranian vessels in its vicinity.
Sri Lanka remained silent on the issue, and efforts to obtain a response from government authorities were unsuccessful. Along with Indian nationals, there were also Bangladeshis among the crew members. Iran’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Dr. Alireza Delkhosh, emphasized that Sri Lanka was obligated to provide assistance under international law, specifically under the Convention on the Law of the Sea (Article 98) and SOLAS and SAR Conventions.
Sri Lanka’s leader Rauff Hakeem criticized the government for failing to assist the Iranian ships, alleging that it was merely complying with US dictates.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
