Sri Lanka, Sept. 5 -- The Sri Lankan Government has received no formal request or message from Iran regarding its vessels that remained close to Sri Lanka's territorial waters, Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekera told the Daily Mirror.

He said that no issue had arisen in this regard with the U.S. authorities.

It was reported that several Iranian-flagged vessels anchored off the country's coast near the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) due to the U.S blockade.

Mr Jayasekera said "no request has come to facilitate or do anything" in connection with the vessels.

Asked how the Sri Lankan Government would respond if Iran made a request concerning Iranian vessels outside Sri Lankan waters, the Deputy Minister said a decision would have t...