At least 13 Iranian-flagged tankers have gathered off the coast of Sri Lanka as the U.S. military continues its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Sea-news.az reports that Financial Times covered this based on data from monitoring resources.
According to maritime analytics firm TankerTrackers, approximately 20 state-owned Iranian tankers have found shelter within Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone. All of them are currently unladen (empty).
Meanwhile, Kpler reports that since the U.S. resumed its blockade in mid-July, not a single tanker departing the Persian Gulf has loaded cargo at Iran’s primary export terminal on Kharg Island. Concurrently, dozens of empty tankers have accumulated off the coasts of Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Ports stated it was unaware of the gathering of Iranian tankers off its waters, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment.
According to U.S. figures, as of August 24, the U.S. Navy has intercepted 71 commercial vessels associated with Iran since the naval blockade was reinstated, incapacitated three ships, and boarded another two.
Earlier in August, U.S. authorities announced the launch of an intensified economic pressure campaign against Iran, with Washington planning to target nations that continue specific trade operations with Tehran, among other measures.
