New Delhi: Iran has strongly condemned the sinking of its naval frigate IRIS Dena by a United States submarine in the Indian Ocean, calling the attack an “atrocity at sea” and warning that Washington would “bitterly regret” the action.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Aragchi said the vessel had been returning from a naval engagement with the Indian Navy when it was struck without warning in international waters. According to Iranian officials, the frigate was carrying around 130 sailors.
The attack took place off the southern coast of Sri Lanka after the warship had participated in the multinational naval exercise MILAN in India. The exercise, held in Visakhapatnam from February 18 to 25, brought together naval forces from several countries and was aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation and interoperability.
Iranian authorities said the vessel had been welcomed by the Indian Navy during the exercise and was on its return journey when it was targeted. Aragchi criticised the United States for carrying out the strike far from Iranian waters and accused Washington of setting a dangerous precedent.
The United States has acknowledged that an American submarine torpedoed the Iranian frigate, marking the first time since World War II that the US has sunk an enemy ship using a torpedo in combat. The incident is being viewed as a major escalation in the wider conflict that intensified after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in late February.
Footage released by US authorities reportedly shows the moments before the strike, with the Iranian vessel sailing in calm waters before a large explosion erupts near its stern, sending debris and water into the air.
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The broader conflict has already triggered retaliatory drone and missile attacks by Iran targeting countries hosting US military bases across the region, significantly raising tensions in the Middle East and surrounding maritime areas.
The incident has also drawn political reactions in India, where opposition leaders questioned the government’s silence over the strike. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate criticised the lack of an official response, noting that Iranian sailors had recently visited India as participants in the naval exercise.
Former Rajya Sabha member Jawhar Sircar also raised concerns about the attack occurring near waters where India and Sri Lanka frequently conduct joint patrols, questioning whether New Delhi should have responded more strongly.
The Indian government has not issued a detailed statement on the incident so far, although it has rejected claims that US forces used Indian ports to launch operations against Iran.
The sinking of the Iranian frigate has added a new dimension to the rapidly expanding regional crisis, raising concerns about maritime security in the Indian Ocean and the potential implications for regional stability.
