Sri Lanka rescues 40 Iranian sailors, spokesman says

Sri Lanka has coordinated the rescue of 40 Iranian sailors from multiple commercial ships in international waters off the coast, according to a spokesman for the island nation's foreign ministry. The ministry received a request from the Iranian embassy via diplomatic channels to rescue the sailors, who were suffering unspecified medical emergencies.

While the ministry did not provide further details, local media reported that the sailors were on board vessels which were US-sanctioned oil tankers, a situation exacerbated by Washington's blockade on Iranian shipping as part of its ongoing conflict with Iran.

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