Sri Lanka began transferring more than 200 sailors from the Iranian vessel IRIS Bushehr to shore after the ship requested assistance near its waters.

The move came days after a U.S. submarine sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka’s coast, killing many crew members and escalating regional tensions.

Sri Lankan forces rescued 32 sailors and recovered 87 bodies from the sunken ship.

Officials said the Bushehr experienced engine trouble and would later be moved to the eastern port of Trincomalee, while its sailors undergo medical checks and immigration procedures, ABC News has reported.

Sri Lanka said it is handling the situation neutrally while balancing humanitarian responsibilities and international maritime law.