Sri Lanka has begun the transfer of over 200 sailors from the Iranian ship IRIS Bushehr, after another Iranian ship was sunk by an American submarine.

Sri Lanka began on Friday the transfer of over 200 sailors from the Iranian ship IRIS Bushehr, which requested assistance while anchored near the country's coast. This move comes after the sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena by an American submarine, a rare incident in recent naval history. The sailors will be brought to the port of Colombo, and subsequently, the ship will be moved to a port in the east of the island. The President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, stated that the decision to take over the ship was made after discussions with Iranian officials, emphasizing the importance of respecting international treaties. The incident reflects the expansion of the conflict with Iran in the Indian Ocean, putting Sri Lanka in a delicate situation as it tries to maintain a policy of neutrality and uphold humanitarian obligations. Dissanayake stated that Sri Lanka will not be biased towards any state and will act according to the principles of humanity.