Iranian Tanker in Indonesia: Foreign Ministry Confirms Compliance with International Law

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) has confirmed that the Iranian tanker in Indonesian waters is not violating any laws, as it complies with international law.

Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yvonne Mewengkang, conveyed this based on verification and coordination efforts conducted.

“The Indonesian government is conducting field verification and continuing internal coordination, and views that the ships are exercising their passage rights in accordance with international law,” Yvonne stated in her remarks on Tuesday (5/5/2026).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to monitor and communicate regarding the presence of the ship in Indonesian waters.

According to Yvonne, Indonesia has noted reports concerning the presence of foreign ships in Indonesian waters.

“Navigation rules in any waters, including Indonesia, are subject to UNCLOS 1982, which respects all passage regimes in each maritime zone,” she added.

It was previously reported that the Iranian tanker had successfully evaded the US military blockade, according to TankerTrackers on Sunday (3/5/2026).

The super tanker owned by Iran is carrying 1.9 million barrels of crude oil valued at nearly $220 million (approximately Rp 3.8 trillion).

“A super VLCC tanker owned by the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) carrying more than 1.9 million barrels of crude oil has successfully evaded the US Navy and reached the Far East,” TankerTrackers wrote on X, as reported by Anadolu on Sunday.

It is currently reported to be moving through the Lombok Strait in Indonesia and heading to the Riau Islands.

According to maritime tracking information, the tanker has not transmitted an Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal since 20 March, when it left the Malacca Strait towards Iran.