Sri Lanka pledges to treat rescued Iranian sailors in line with international law

NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka will handle the case of Iranian sailors rescued from a sunken frigate in accordance with international law, according to Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. The announcement comes amid reports that the United States is urging Colombo not to repatriate the Iranian crew members.

Speaking at a conference in New Delhi on Saturday, Herath stated that Sri Lanka is caring for 32 sailors from the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, which was sunk by a US submarine on Wednesday near Sri Lanka’s southern coast. The minister emphasized, “We have taken all the steps according to international laws.”

The Sri Lankan navy conducted a rescue operation following the incident, saving survivors and recovering 84 bodies from the site of the sunken vessel. When asked directly whether Sri Lanka was facing pressure from the United States to refrain from sending the Iranian sailors home, Herath did not provide a direct response but reiterated the country’s commitment to its international treaty obligations.

In addition to the rescue of the IRIS Dena crew, Sri Lanka also extended assistance to a second Iranian warship, the IRIS Bushehr. The Bushehr’s 219 crew members were evacuated a day after the Dena was torpedoed, and the ship was brought to safety by Sri Lankan authorities.

The situation has drawn international attention, with Washington reportedly pressing Colombo regarding the handling of the Iranian sailors and survivors. However, Sri Lanka’s official stance remains that all actions are being conducted in line with international law and treaty commitments.

The incident has highlighted Sri Lanka’s role in responding to maritime emergencies in the region and its adherence to international protocols concerning the treatment of rescued military personnel from foreign vessels.