Irins Bushehr crew members being evacuated in Colombo
A second Iranian vessel, the Irins Bushehr, is expected to dock at Trincomalee port after 208 crew members were evacuated in Colombo due to an engine malfunction. The incident comes just days after the United States sank an Iranian warship, the Iris Dena, near Sri Lanka.
The Irins Bushehr sought permission to dock at a Sri Lankan port after it reported to have an engine failure. The ship docked in Colombo to evacuate 208 crew members before heading to Trincomalee.
According to The Guardian, Dissanayake said the government had direct discussions with Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, regarding the permission for the second vessel to dock.
Dissanayake said Iran had requested permission last week for three naval vessels to docks at Sri Lankan ports from 9 March for four days, but the request was still under review when the US struck the Iris Dena.
On Wednesday, the United States had targeted and sunk Iranian warship, Iris Dena, that had been operating in international waters off the southern coast of Sri Lanka.
Following the attack, United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said:
“Yesterday in the Indian Ocean… an American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death.
“The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II. Like in that war, Like in that war, back when we were still the War Department, we are fighting to win.”
The frigate was reportedly one of approximately 20 Iranian vessels to be destroyed following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that began over the weekend.