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An Iranian ship offloaded more than 200 of its crew in Sri Lanka on Friday after suffering engine failure at sea, just days after a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in a torpedo attack in the Indian Ocean.
IRIS Bushehr, which was described as a naval logistics ship in previous Iranian media reports, is being towed to Colombo port first, according to Sri Lanka Navy spokesperson Commander. Buddhika Sampath. The sailors are being taken to the naval base in Welisara after medical examination and immigration procedures.
“We have to understand that this is not a normal situation,” Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Thursday. “This is a request by a ship from one party to enter our port. We have to consider this in accordance with international treaties and conventions.”
Dissanayake said authorities decided to take control of the IRIS Bushehr after discussions with Iranian officials and the ship’s captain after one of its engines failed. He said some crew members would remain on board to later help the Sri Lankan Navy tow the ship to Trincomalee on the northeastern coast of the island, about 165 miles from Colombo.
Iranian Navy personnel stand aboard the IRIS Bushehr in Port Sudan, Sudan, in December 2012. Reports say the ship ran into engine problems on March 6, 2026 and is being towed to Sri Lanka. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)
America has taken this step after sinking the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said it was “the first incident of sinking an enemy ship by torpedo since World War II.”
The Indian Navy on Thursday said it had launched a search and rescue operation, deploying two aircraft along with a sailing training vessel after receiving a distress signal from Dena. It added that by the time the response was launched, the Sri Lankan Navy had begun its rescue efforts.
According to the Associated Press, the Sri Lankan Navy rescued 32 sailors and recovered 87 bodies after the attack.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Thursday that the United States would “deeply regret” attacking and sinking that ship.
“The US has committed atrocities in the sea 2,000 miles from Iran’s shores,” Araqchi wrote on X.
America is winning ‘decisive victory’ against Iran, Hegseth said, will gain ‘complete control’ of airspace within days
War Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Wednesday that a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters in the Indian Ocean. (@DeptofWar/X)
He said, “Mark my words: America will deeply regret the precedent it has set.”
Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Kane told reporters at the Pentagon on Wednesday that the Iranian ship was “effectively disabled” in a Navy “swift strike” using a single Mark 48 torpedo.
Two Iranian sailors, center, who were rescued from the IRIS Dena warship by the Sri Lankan Navy, are seen in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (Eranga Jayewardene/AP)
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He said the US Navy “sent the warship to the sea with immediate effect.”
Fox News’ Stephen Soares, Landon Mion and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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