Sri Lanka has repatriated 238 Iranian sailors who had been stranded in the country for over a month following a deadly naval incident involving a US torpedo attack.
According to Sri Lanka’s Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara, a total of 32 sailors rescued from the Iranian warship Iris Dena and 206 from Irins Bushehr departed the country after being temporarily hosted by Sri Lankan authorities.
The incident dates back to March 4, when the Iris Dena sank approximately 40 kilometers off Sri Lanka’s southern coast after reportedly being struck by a torpedo fired from a US submarine. The attack resulted in the deaths of 104 Iranian sailors, making it one of the deadliest naval incidents in recent regional history.
A day later, Sri Lanka took control of the Irins Bushehr after it requested emergency docking due to an engine malfunction. The vessel was allowed to anchor following discussions with Sri Lankan authorities, highlighting the country’s humanitarian stance.
The stranded sailors were granted 30-day entry visas and accommodated in Sri Lankan navy and air force facilities during their stay. Officials confirmed that the majority of the crew members were flown back to Iran on Tuesday night.
Footage released by the US Department of Defense showed the moment the vessel was struck, triggering a powerful explosion that caused the ship to sink rapidly.
The bodies of 84 sailors recovered from the wreckage were later repatriated to Iran through a chartered flight arranged by Iranian authorities.
The incident occurred in international waters during an already tense period, just days after the escalation of the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. The sinking of the vessel significantly intensified regional tensions, with Iran reportedly launching retaliatory strikes across parts of the Middle East.
Despite the repatriation, around 15 Iranian sailors will remain in Sri Lanka to operate the Irins Bushehr, which is currently anchored near the northeastern port city of Trincomalee.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had earlier defended the country’s decision to assist the Iranian vessel, stating that Sri Lanka would “never hesitate to protect humanity” while maintaining its neutral stance.
Sri Lanka has long followed a non-aligned foreign policy since gaining independence in 1948 and continues to maintain diplomatic and economic relations with both Iran and the United States.
The repatriation of the stranded sailors marks a humanitarian conclusion to a crisis that underscored the fragile security environment in the region.
