Second Iranian Vessel Requests Emergency Docking in Sri Lanka Following US Warship Sinking
Sri Lankan authorities are facing a diplomatic and security crisis as a second Iranian ship has requested emergency permission to dock at Colombo port, just days after a US submarine sank the Iranian warship Iris Dena in nearby waters, killing more than 80 sailors.
Urgent Request for Port Access
Sri Lankan Minister Nalinda Jayatissa informed parliament on Thursday that another Iranian vessel was sailing close to Sri Lanka's territorial waters. "We are making necessary interventions to resolve this issue, restrict the threat to lives and to ensure regional security," Jayatissa stated. According to sources, the ship is a logistical pipe-laying vessel with a crew of over 100 people, not categorized as a warship. It may be as close as 10 nautical miles from Sri Lanka's western coast, within sovereign waters.
The vessel has reportedly made an urgent request to dock at Colombo port for engine repairs. Opposition MP Namal Rajapaksa confirmed the ship has sought government permission for an urgent port call but has not yet received clearance. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was meeting with his cabinet and defense officials on Thursday to decide on a response.
Aftermath of the Iris Dena Sinking
On Tuesday, a US torpedo destroyed the Iranian warship Iris Dena as it was returning home after participating in a military training exercise in India. The attack quickly sank the vessel, killing at least 87 sailors. The Sri Lankan navy and coastguard responded to a distress call early Wednesday morning, but by their arrival, only an oil slick and survivors clinging to life rafts remained.
The navy's rescue operation continued on Thursday, with at least six more bodies retrieved from the sea. Casualties from the sinking have been taken to hospital in Galle, Sri Lanka, where 32 rescued Iranians are still being treated under tight security provided by police and military personnel. Authorities are preparing to hand over the remains of 87 Iranian sailors to Iranian diplomatic officials.
Escalation of US-Iran Conflict
The targeting of the Iris Dena marks a significant escalation of the US-Israeli assault on Iran, which began over the weekend, and represents the first incident of the conflict spreading beyond the Middle East. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated the US would "bitterly regret" the attack, calling it an atrocity committed 2,000 miles from Iran's shores against a vessel that was a guest of India's Navy.
The Sri Lankan government has confirmed that Iran requested assistance in repatriating the bodies of sailors recovered from the Iris Dena, adding another layer to the complex international situation unfolding in the region.
