Sri Lanka provides medical help and repatriates 40 Iranian sailors stranded in the Indian Ocean

Colombo, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka has responded to a distress call and provided medical assistance to 40 Iranian sailors stranded near the country's waters, before repatriating them to Tehran, a spokesperson confirmed on Sunday. Thushara Rodrigo, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, revealed that the sailors were brought to the southern port of Galle on Saturday following a distress call seeking medical aid.

While the exact ships the sailors originated from remain undisclosed, they were transported to shore by vessels arranged by the Iranian Embassy and local shipping agents. Immigration and institutional formalities were managed by the Sri Lankan ministry. Following preliminary medical treatment, the sailors departed Sri Lanka early Sunday.

The Iranian oil tankers had been anchored off Sri Lanka for several months following the U.S. reinstatement of its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, leaving numerous Iranian vessels unable to return home. This issue gained significant attention as Sri Lankan authorities acknowledged the presence of 19 ships located approximately 24 nautical miles from the coast, reporting shortages of food, water, and fuel.

Two weeks prior, the government disclosed that they had no immediate plans to assist the ships, citing national interests and secondary sanctions from the United States. This development occurs nearly seven months after the U.S. torpedo attack on the Iranian naval ship IRIS Dena, resulting in the death of 87 sailors. A second Iranian ship was also brought to a Sri Lankan port after reporting technical issues.

Both sets of wounded sailors received treatment in Sri Lankan hospitals and were successfully repatriated back to Iran. Sri Lanka is currently recovering from an economic crisis and serves as a crucial trading partner for both the U.S. and Iran.