Sri Lanka shelters Iranian vessel after US submarine sinks warship off its coast

Sri Lanka’s navy has taken control of a second Iranian naval vessel and evacuated its crew, following a deadly incident involving another Iranian warship off the country’s southern coast. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced on Thursday that the navy had offloaded 208 sailors from the IRIS Bushehr, which had requested entry to port due to engine trouble.

This move comes just one day after the IRIS Dena, another Iranian warship, was sunk by a US submarine attack in international waters near Sri Lanka. According to officials, at least 87 sailors lost their lives in the incident, and rescue operations are ongoing to locate those still missing.

In a televised address, President Dissanayake emphasized that Sri Lanka’s actions were motivated by a commitment to neutrality and the need to “safeguard lives.” He stated that the navy’s intervention was solely to ensure the safety of the Iranian crew members.

The incident has drawn international attention and criticism. Iranian official Araghchi described the US attack on the IRIS Dena as an “atrocity.” Meanwhile, questions have been raised in India regarding the country’s role in the region, as the IRIS Dena had previously been hosted by the Indian Navy. Members of the Indian Congress party criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s lack of response and questioned India’s position as a security provider in the Indian Ocean.

As the situation develops, Sri Lankan authorities continue to coordinate rescue efforts for the missing sailors from the sunken Iranian vessel. The government has reiterated its stance of neutrality amid rising regional tensions.