Sri Lanka says national interest trumps aid to 19 Iranian ships amid sanction fears

Sri Lanka's foreign ministry indicated that helping the crews of 19 Iranian ships anchored in international waters near the island is unlikely, as the country must first safeguard its national interests. Officials warned that any Sri Lankan firm delivering supplies could be subject to secondary sanctions imposed by the United States. Spokesperson Thushara Rodrigo noted that no formal notice from Washington has been received regarding punitive measures.

The ships are positioned roughly 24 nautical miles from Sri Lanka's shoreline, and the Iranian embassy reported no details about the incident. The decision comes as Sri Lanka continues to recover from an economic crisis while maintaining trade ties with both the United States and Iran. Past incidents include a U.S. torpedo strike that sank the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena in Sri Lankan waters, resulting in 87 deaths.