Iran's Big Claim
Frigate Dena 'guest of Indian Navy', struck without warning - Iran minister
This story was originally published at 13:24 IST on 5 March 2026
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NEW DELHI – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday the US will regret the precedent it set by hitting the Iranian vessel IRIS Dena in international waters without warning.
IRIS Dena was torpedoed by a US submarine Wednesday morning off the southern coast of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean. At least 87 sailors died in the incident while 32 people were rescued by Sri Lankan authorities.
The frigate was sailing back after participating in an international fleet review hosted by the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam. In what could be an embarrassment for India, Araghchi pointed out that the Iranian frigate was "a guest of India's Navy".
"The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores," Araghchi wrote on social media platform X. "Frigate Dena, a guest of India's Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning."
Further, Araghchi warned: "Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set."
On Feb. 17, the Indian Navy had welcomed IRIS Dena upon its arrival in Visakhapatnam. "Indian Navy welcomes IRIS Dena, of the Iranian Navy, on her arrival at Visakhapatnam to participate in IFR 2026 and MILAN 2026, reflecting long-standing cultural links between the two nations," the Eastern Naval Command had tweeted.
The Indian authorities have not yet commented on the sinking of the frigate.
The IRIS Dena was armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. It carried one helicopter, as per a report by the Associated Press. At least 17 Iranian naval vessels have been sunk during the ongoing war, said Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads the US military's Central Command. End
Reported by Asim Khan
Edited by Tanima Banerjee
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