Over 40 Iranian merchant sailors, stranded on oil tankers currently anchored just outside of Sri Lankan territorial waters, have been brought ashore to receive urgent medical care. The sailors were transported through the port of Galle, located south of Colombo, over the weekend. Sri Lankan officials confirmed their involvement in the transfer, noting that the mission was carried out to fulfill humanitarian obligations with all associated costs covered by the Iranian embassy.

This situation reflects the ongoing geopolitical instability in the region, which has left numerous Iranian tankers effectively stranded due to a US-imposed blockade. While the Sri Lankan government maintains that these vessels are operating within international waters where navigation remains free, the military has increased surveillance in the area using patrol boats and aircraft. The presence of these ships follows recent military clashes in the vicinity, including the sinking of an Iranian frigate by a US submarine, which has further complicated the status of Iranian vessels attempting to return home.