New Delhi: Amid escalating tensions in the ongoing US-Iran conflict, India granted emergency docking permission to an Iranian naval vessel just days before a US submarine torpedoed and sank another Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean.
According to government sources, Iran approached India on February 28, seeking urgent assistance for the IRIS Lavan, which developed technical issues while in the region. Indian authorities approved the request on March 1, allowing the ship — with 183 crew members — to dock at Kochi port. The vessel arrived and berthed on March 4, with its crew accommodated in Indian Navy facilities. The IRIS Lavan had been participating in the International Fleet Review hosted by India.
On the very same day, March 4, a US submarine fired a torpedo at the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in international waters off Sri Lanka’s southern coast. The attack caused the ship to sink rapidly. A massive rescue operation by Sri Lanka’s navy resulted in the recovery of 87 bodies and the rescue of 32 sailors, many of whom required hospitalisation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi strongly condemned the strike, stating, “America has committed a serious crime at sea and attacked without warning in international waters.” He added on social media, “America has set a dangerous precedent, which it will have to face bitter consequences for.” He also described the IRIS Dena as a “guest of India’s Navy”, noting its recent participation in India’s MILAN 2026 multilateral exercise in Visakhapatnam.
Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake remarked, “In war, no innocent person’s life should be lost,” while justifying the humanitarian rescue efforts.
The sequence of events underscores India’s delicate balancing act in maintaining ties with both Iran and the US amid the widening conflict, as it navigates diplomatic relations while addressing regional security concerns and international expectations.