US urges Sri Lanka not to repatriate Iranian crew from sunken ship

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is urging Sri Lanka not to return Iranian warship survivors or their crewmates, escalating tensions as the US submarine sank one vessel in international waters.

A U.S. sub struck the IRIS Dena warship in the Indian Ocean approximately 19 nautical miles off Galle, a port city in southern Sri Lanka. The torpedoing claimed dozens of lives and set a new bar for American military engagement since World War II.

Sri Lanka has commenced transferring 208 Iranian crew members from the IRIS Booshehr, another ship seized by authorities but now stranded within its exclusive economic zone. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized his nation’s humanitarian duty to care for these sailors, while also recognizing U.S. pressure.

Sri Lankan officials noted that Iran had requested help repatriating the dead from the Dena, a move met with reluctance by both Sri Lanka and Washington.

The State Department cable from March 6 indicates Deputy Charge d’affaires Jayne Howell emphasized to Sri Lanka’s government that neither Booshehr crew nor Dena survivors should be repatriated. The cable stressed Sri Lankan authorities must avoid Iranian attempts to exploit these detainees for propaganda purposes.

Sri Lanka’s deputy minister of health and mass media, Hansaka Wijemuni, confirmed Tehran sought assistance in repatriating the Dena’s casualties but a timeline has yet to be determined.

The US official stated that the Dena was equipped when struck by the torpedo and the United States did not issue a warning before launching its attack.

Sri Lanka intends to maintain custody of Booshehr, an Iranian naval auxiliary vessel now stationed in Sri Lankan waters for the duration of the conflict. Officials plan to escort it toward a harbor on the eastern coast while moving most crew members into naval barracks near Colombo.

This incident has widened geopolitical tensions and highlights the expanding scope of military action since World War Two. Washington is closely monitoring both vessels, their crews, and the broader maritime dispute with Iran.