The U.S. is pressing Sri Lanka not to repatriate the survivors from an Iranian warship it sank this week or the crew of a second Iranian ship that is in Sri Lankan custody, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters. ADVERTISEMENTOn Thursday, Sri Lanka began offloading 208 crew members from a second Iranian ship, the naval auxiliary vessel Booshehr, which had found itself stranded in Sri Lanka's exclusive economic zone but outside its maritime boundary. "Sri Lankan authorities should minimize Iranian attempts to use the detainees for propaganda," the cable says. Representatives for Dissanayake's office and Sri Lanka's foreign ministry were not immediately available for comment. The State Department cable says the second vessel, the Booshehr, will remain in Sri Lankan custody for the duration of the conflict.

Source: The Telegraph March 08, 2026 13:18 UTC