Tehran/Colombo: Tensions in the Indian Ocean escalated after Iran strongly criticised the United States for sinking one of its naval vessels near Sri Lanka, with Tehran warning that Washington would “deeply regret” the attack.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi issued a sharp statement on social media on Thursday, condemning the strike that destroyed the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in international waters. He said the vessel had been targeted without warning thousands of kilometres away from Iran’s coastline.
According to Araqchi, the ship was carrying nearly 130 sailors and had recently participated in a multinational naval exercise organised by the Indian Navy. He described the warship as a guest of India during the event and said it was on its return journey when the strike occurred.
US confirms submarine attack
The incident came to light after Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, confirmed that an American submarine launched a torpedo that struck the Iranian vessel in the Indian Ocean. He said the warship had been operating in international waters at the time of the attack.
Iranian officials argued that the strike took place far from any active conflict zone, noting that the location was roughly 4,000 kilometres from Iranian territory.
Naval exercise participation
Before the incident, the IRIS Dena had taken part in the multinational naval exercise Exercise Milan, which was hosted by India in Visakhapatnam. The event saw participation from naval forces representing dozens of countries, including Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Russia.
During the visit, Iran’s naval chief Shahram Irani reportedly met with India’s Chief of Naval Staff to discuss cooperation on maritime security.
Rescue operations after distress call
Reports indicate that the ship sent a distress signal early Wednesday morning when it was around 40 kilometres west of the southern Sri Lankan port city of Galle. In response, Sri Lankan authorities launched a search and rescue operation.
Sri Lanka deployed naval ships and an aircraft to assist survivors after the call was received, according to the country’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. Several sailors were rescued and transported to a hospital in Galle for treatment.
Different reports have cited varying casualty figures, with dozens rescued and many others still missing.
Regional tensions rise
The strike has intensified tensions in the wider region as the ongoing confrontation involving Iran, United States, and Israel spreads beyond the Middle East.
Iranian officials have warned that the attack could have serious consequences, arguing that targeting a naval vessel in international waters sets a dangerous precedent. Meanwhile, maritime authorities in the region continue search and rescue efforts while monitoring developments in the area.
