World · South & Central Asia · 2 hrs ago
Sri Lanka gives urgent medical care to Iranian sailors from stranded tankers
At least 40 Iranian sailors received urgent medical care in Sri Lanka after becoming stranded aboard oil tankers.
The tankers were anchored just outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, near the southern port of Galle.
Sri Lankan authorities coordinated the sailors’ transfer ashore on humanitarian grounds, and the Iranian Embassy paid the costs.
The sailors were taken to Colombo for treatment and left Sri Lanka on Saturday night, according to an Iranian Embassy official.
The vessels are under U.S. sanctions, and Iranian merchant ships have been unable to return to their home ports because of a U.S. blockade.
Sri Lanka says the tankers are in international waters, where ships have freedom of navigation, and has deployed aircraft and patrol boats to monitor them.
Around 40 Iranian sailors from U.S.-sanctioned tankers received urgent medical treatment in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan authorities coordinated their transfer from the vessels to shore through the port of Galle.
The Iranian sailors were taken to Colombo for medical attention and left Sri Lanka on Saturday night, according to an Iranian Embassy official.
The tankers were anchored just outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.
Sri Lanka said it coordinated the transfer on humanitarian grounds, and the Iranian Embassy paid the costs.
- Who
- Around 40 Iranian sailors from U.S.-sanctioned oil tankers.
- What
- They were brought ashore and given urgent medical treatment.
- When
- Saturday, October 24, 2026.
- Where
- The transfer was through Galle, Sri Lanka; the sailors were taken to Colombo for treatment.
- Why
- They needed urgent medical care. Sri Lanka said it acted on humanitarian grounds.
Sri Lanka
U.S. sanctions and blockade
Vessels’ status
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka says the tankers are in international waters, where they have freedom of navigation.
U.S. sanctions and blockade
The sources say U.S. sanctions and a blockade have left Iranian vessels unable to return to their home port.
Response to the sailors’ needs
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka coordinated their transfer ashore for urgent medical care on humanitarian grounds.
U.S. sanctions and blockade
Not stated
The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. sanctions had left Iranian vessels stranded in Sri Lankan waters.
Sri Lankan authorities facilitated the sailors’ transfer from the tankers to shore through Galle.
The sailors left Sri Lanka after being taken to Colombo for medical attention, according to an Iranian Embassy official.
- Sailors
- Around 40, according to The Hindu; at least 40, according to the Straits Times
- Transfer port
- Galle
- Medical treatment
- Colombo
- Tankers’ location
- Just outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters
- Expenses
- Borne by the Iranian Embassy
3 sources
What people are saying
We coordinated the transfer alone as per our humanitarian obligations. The Iranian Embassy bore all the expenses.
We have coordinated the transfer and carried out our humanitarian obligations