More than 250 Iranian sailors remain stranded in Sri Lanka after the US torpedoed their warship in the Indian Ocean. The sailors, including survivors from the Dena frigate and crew from the Bushehr supply ship, have been held in protective custody since early March when the US launched its military campaign.

Sri Lanka faces a diplomatic dilemma over the sailors' fate. The government has provided housing, medical care, and communication with families while Iranian diplomats negotiate daily for their return. Iran's ambassador argues the sailors should be repatriated since the two countries aren't at war, but Sri Lankan officials say they cannot simply release them.

Security concerns complicate any potential return. American submarines continue patrolling the region, making sea travel risky. Iran chartered a special plane to repatriate bodies from the Dena attack, but officials question whether another flight could safely reach Tehran given the intensity of ongoing airstrikes. The captain and 14 crew members remain aboard the Bushehr, which is docked in Sri Lanka while the rest of the sailors are housed at military facilities.