40 Iranian Sailors Stranded at Sea Get Relief as Sri Lanka Rescues and Repatriates Them

Sri Lanka has provided emergency medical assistance to 40 Iranian sailors stranded aboard vessels near its waters and repatriated them to Tehran, offering humanitarian relief amid a growing crisis involving Iranian ships in the Indian Ocean.

The sailors were brought ashore at the southern port of Galle on Saturday after Sri Lankan authorities received a distress call requesting medical assistance. They were transported to the port by boats arranged by the Iranian Embassy and local shipping agents.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Thushara Rodrigo said the sailors received initial medical treatment before leaving Sri Lanka early Sunday. The authorities did not disclose which vessels the men had been aboard.

The rescue comes as 19 Iranian vessels remain anchored approximately 24 nautical miles off Sri Lanka's coast, with reports of shortages of food, drinking water and fuel. Several Iranian oil tankers have been unable to return home amid a US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Sri Lanka had previously indicated that it had no immediate plans to supply the stranded ships, citing national interests and the potential risk of secondary sanctions from the United States. The latest operation, however, highlights the humanitarian concerns facing authorities as the crews remain at sea.

The situation also comes months after the sinking of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena in a US torpedo attack, which killed 87 sailors. The ship had been returning to Iran after participating in a naval exercise hosted by India. Another Iranian vessel was subsequently brought to a Sri Lankan port after its crew reported technical problems.

The sailors rescued from those incidents were also repatriated after receiving assistance.

Still recovering from a severe economic crisis, Sri Lanka maintains important trade ties with both Washington and Tehran. Its handling of the stranded vessels presents a delicate challenge, requiring it to balance humanitarian obligations with economic and diplomatic considerations.