On 4 March, Iris Dena sank after being hit by a torpedo fired from a US submarine, killing not less than 87 of its crew members.
According to the Indian Navy, the Iris Dena was working about 20 nautical miles – roughly 23 miles (37km) – west of Galle in waters that fall underneath Sri Lanka’s designated search-and-rescue zone on the day it was struck.
The US tracks vessels the world over’s oceans, and 1 / 4 of its submarine fleet of 65-70 is at sea at any given time, in line with analysts.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi mentioned final week the US had “perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores” and that the warship was “struck in international waters without warning.”
Later, Sri Lanka mentioned it had provided sanctuary for Iris Bushehr on 5 March, a day after it requested for docking following an engine malfunction.
Eventually, India additionally confirmed, external that Iris Lavan was docked in its southern metropolis Kochi.
The BBC has written to the Iranian embassy in India and India’s exterior affairs ministry looking for clarification on the actions of the three Iranian naval vessels after Delhi granted them permission to dock.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has touted the assault on Iris Dena for instance of America’s army prowess, claiming it was “the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War Two”.
While it’s the first time since 1945 that an American submarine has sunk an enemy ship this manner, the UK and Pakistan have each sunk vessels utilizing torpedoes since then.
The Iris Dena was considered one of about 20 Iranian navy vessels destroyed since Israel and the US launched co-ordinated strikes on Iran.
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