Iranian Ship Experiences Engine Trouble, Crew Safely Disembarks After US Submarine Incident

In light of recent maritime tensions, an Iranian vessel has found itself in distress in the Indian Ocean. On Friday, the IRIS Bushehr, a ship known for its logistical support to the Iranian navy, offloaded over 200 crew members in Sri Lanka following an engine malfunction. This incident follows closely on the heels of a U.S. submarine’s torpedo attack that sank an Iranian warship in the same oceanic region.

The IRIS Bushehr’s current journey has taken it to Colombo, Sri Lanka, as confirmed by the Sri Lankan navy spokesperson, Commander Buddhika Sampath. Upon arrival, the disembarked sailors underwent medical examinations and immigration processes before being transported to a naval base in Welisara.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed the unusual circumstances during a statement on Thursday. He emphasized the uniqueness of the situation, noting the ship’s request to dock at a Sri Lankan port, which must be handled within the frameworks of international treaties and conventions. The decision to assist the IRIS Bushehr came after thorough consultations with Iranian authorities and the ship’s captain due to the engine failure.

While most of the crew has been offloaded, some members will remain aboard to aid the Sri Lankan navy in guiding the IRIS Bushehr to Trincomalee, located approximately 165 miles northeast of Colombo, for further repairs. This incident underscores the complex web of international maritime relations and the necessity for cooperation in times of maritime distress.

Previously captured in Port Sudan in 2012, the IRIS Bushehr has now encountered mechanical difficulties, as reported on March 6, 2026. The ship is currently under Sri Lankan custodianship as efforts continue to address its engine issues.

The moves come after the U.S. sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka’s coast on Wednesday.  

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said it was “the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.” 

The Indian navy said Thursday that it had initiated search and rescue operations after receiving a distress signal from the Dena, deploying two aircraft along with a sailing training vessel. By the time the response was launched, the Sri Lankan navy had already started its own rescue efforts, it said.

The Sri Lankan navy rescued 32 sailors and recovered 87 bodies after the attack, according to The Associated Press. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Thursday that the U.S. will “bitterly regret” striking and sinking that ship. 

“The U.S. has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores,” Araqchi wrote on X. “Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning.”

A U.S. submarine sunk an Iranian warship in international waters in the Indian Ocean, War Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Wednesday. (@DeptofWar/X)

“Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret precedent it has set,” he added. 

Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine told reporters at the Pentagon on Wednesday that the Iranian vessel was “effectively neutralized” in a Navy “fast attack” using a single Mark 48 torpedo.

Two Iranian sailors, center, who were rescued from the IRIS Dena warship by Sri Lanka’s navy, are seen in Galle, Sri Lanka, on Thursday, March 5, 2026. (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)

He added that the U.S. Navy achieved “immediate effect, sending the warship to the bottom of the sea.” 

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