Sri Lanka takes control of Iranian vessel after US sank warship

WorldPolitics
6 Mar 2026 • 7:18 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Sri Lanka commenced transferring over 200 sailors from the Iranian vessel IRIS Bushehr to shore after the ship sought assistance outside its waters.
  • This operation follows the sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena by a US submarine off Sri Lanka's coast, a rare event since World War II.
  • The IRIS Dena had participated in naval exercises hosted by India before the incident.
  • The Sri Lankan navy rescued 32 sailors and recovered 87 bodies from the IRIS Dena.
  • Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, condemned the sinking as an 'atrocity at sea' and warned the US would 'bitterly regret' the attack.

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