Key facts
- Sri Lanka rescued 40 Iranian sailors from commercial ships.
- The sailors were suffering unspecified medical emergencies.
- The rescue occurred in international waters off Sri Lanka's coast.
- The sailors were returned to Iran on Sunday morning.
Sri Lanka coordinated the rescue of 40 Iranian sailors from multiple commercial ships in international waters off its coast on Sunday, a spokesman for the island nation's foreign ministry said. The ministry received a request from the Iranian embassy via diplomatic channels to rescue the sailors, who were suffering unspecified medical emergencies. Local media reported the sailors were on board vessels that are US-sanctioned oil tankers. Washington has imposed a blockade on Iranian shipping as part of its war on Iran. The sailors were brought ashore at Galle Harbour, given medical treatment, and returned to Iran early Sunday morning.