Indonesian authorities have stated that they do not intend to block Iranian tankers from transiting through its territorial waters, despite ongoing US-imposed maritime restrictions on Iran.
According to Jakarta Globe, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mevenkan said that maritime navigation rules, including passage through Indonesian waters, are governed by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees freedom of transit in international waterways.
“We are confident that these vessels are operating in accordance with international law,” the spokesperson said.
She added that under the convention, foreign ships have the right of innocent passage through straits used for international navigation. At the same time, Indonesia will continue to monitor the situation and engage diplomatically if necessary.
The publication also reported that over the weekend, an Iranian tanker carrying approximately $220 million worth of crude oil entered the Lombok Strait, followed by another tanker passing through the waterway between Bali and Lombok.
US forces reportedly began enforcing maritime restrictions on Iran on April 13. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has stated that the movement of vessels heading to or from Iranian ports may be subject to limitations.
