• Source:JND
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US-Iran War: The government sources on Friday said days before the IRIS Dena sank by the US submarine south of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, India was approached by Iran to take in another Iranian Ship, IRIS Lavan, which was also in the region for the International Fleet Review.

ALSO READ: Did India Assist Torpedoed Iranian Vessel IRIS Dena? Navy Confirms Search And Rescue Mission

183 Members Of Iranian Crew Accommodated At Naval Facilities In Kochi

This request was received on 28 February 2026, indicating that a docking at Kochi was urgent as the vessel had developed technical issues, ANI reported, quoting sources, adding that approval was accorded for the docking on 1 March. IRIS Lavan has since docked at Kochi on 4 March. In this context, its crew of 183 are currently accommodated at naval facilities in Kochi, they added.

The report came days after the Iranian warship sank in international waters off Sri Lanka's coast after a US submarine attack on March 4 amid war in the Gulf countries. After the incident, Iran said its warship was not carrying any weapons. A senior Iranian official described America's targeting of the vessel as against international law.

ALSO READ: 'Launched Rescue Operation': Indian Navy Says It Responded To Iranian Warship Struck By US In Indian Ocean

The Iranian ship -- IRIS Dena -- was returning home after participating in the Milan multilateral naval exercise hosted by India when it was attacked early Wednesday.

87 Iranian Sailors Killed In US Submarine Attack

At least 87 Iranian sailors were killed in the attack, according to Sri Lankan authorities. "The targeting of the Iranian ship is against international law, as they did not possess any type of weapons," Ayatollah Dr Abdul Majeed Hakeemelahi, the representative of Iran's supreme leader in India.

Indian Navy Joins Search Operation After US Submarine Sinks Warship

Earlier, the Indian Navy on Thursday said it joined search and rescue operation after learning about a distress call from the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, which went down off the coast of Sri Lanka after being hit by a torpedo fired by a US submarine. In a statement, the Indian Navy said it promptly launched its search and rescue (SAR) efforts with a long-range maritime patrol aircraft at 10 am on Wednesday to augment the rescue operations led by Sri Lanka. "Another aircraft with air-droppable life rafts was also kept on standby for immediate deployment. INS Tarangini, which was operating in the vicinity, was deployed to aid the rescue efforts and arrived in the search area by 4 pm," it said.

(With Agencies inputs)


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