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Iran Envoy Praises India’s Support After US Strike on Warship IRIS Dena
Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, has praised New Delhi for its support following the sinking of the Iranian naval frigate IRIS Dena by United States forces earlier this month. His remarks have helped calm a debate in India about whether the country had any responsibility in the incident.
The Iranian warship had participated in a multinational naval exercise hosted in Visakhapatnam before tensions in the region escalated. While returning home on March 4, the vessel was torpedoed by US forces in the Indian Ocean. Reports suggested that more than 100 crew members were killed in the strike, which occurred near Sri Lanka.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Ambassador Fathali acknowledged India’s assistance following the attack. He said the Indian government responded positively to Tehran’s requests and extended support to Iranian naval personnel.
“The government of India has really helped us,” he said, adding that some other countries had declined to cooperate when Iran sought assistance.
While the IRIS Dena was sunk, another Iranian naval vessel, IRIS Lavan, was allowed to dock at Kochi on March 4. According to reports, India facilitated the return of non-essential crew members from the vessel while the ship remained in port with a reduced crew.
The strike occurred around 40 nautical miles south of Galle in Sri Lanka, in international waters but within what analysts consider India’s strategic neighbourhood in the Indian Ocean. This led to debate about whether India had any responsibility for the vessel’s safety since it had recently participated in an exercise hosted by India.
However, several experts and former officials clarified that India’s operational responsibility ended once the ship left its territorial waters. With Iran publicly acknowledging India’s cooperation, observers believe the controversy surrounding New Delhi’s role in the incident has largely been resolved.
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