Stranded Iranian Tankers Face Food Shortages Amid Tightening US Sanctions
Twenty Iranian oil tankers are stranded off Sri Lanka's southwestern coast, facing shortages of food, fuel, and fresh water. The vessels, which were carrying no cargo when they stopped in Asia for ship-to-ship transfers, have been unable to collect additional cargo due to tightening US sanctions.
The situation began after the United States reimposed its maritime blockade on the Strait of Hormuz in July. This move has left dozens of Iranian and Iran-linked tankers stranded near Asian countries like Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
US officials have pressured Sri Lanka to prevent local vessels from supplying essential provisions to the stranded tankers, citing concerns over potential secondary sanctions against companies providing services to sanctioned vessels.