India Granted Docking to Iranian Warship Before US Attack in Sri Lankan Waters

India granted permission for an Iranian warship, Iris Dena, to dock at its ports just three days before the vessel was sunk by a US submarine in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka. The incident, which occurred on March 4, marked a significant escalation in the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, as it was the first military strike outside the Middle East since the onset of hostilities.

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar revealed that Iran had requested docking rights for three of its ships on February 28, coinciding with the start of the US and Israeli military actions against Iran. India approved the request on March 1. However, the movements of the ships between March 1 and March 4 remain unclear, and only one ship, Iris Lavan, successfully docked in India.

The sinking of Iris Dena, which had 130 sailors aboard, resulted in the deaths of at least 87 crew members. The vessel was operating approximately 20 nautical miles west of Galle, within Sri Lanka's search-and-rescue zone when it was struck. The US, which maintains a significant naval presence worldwide, has been tracking vessels across the oceans, with a substantial portion of its submarine fleet active at any time.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack, describing it as an unprovoked act of aggression in international waters. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka provided sanctuary to another Iranian ship, Iris Bushehr, on March 5 after it experienced an engine malfunction. India confirmed that Iris Lavan docked in Kochi, with its crew currently at Indian naval facilities.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth highlighted the attack on Iris Dena as a demonstration of American military capability, noting it was the first instance of a US submarine sinking an enemy ship with a torpedo since World War Two. Despite this claim, other nations, including the UK and Pakistan, have conducted similar actions since 1945.

The incident involving Iris Dena is part of a broader campaign, with approximately 20 Iranian naval vessels reportedly destroyed since the coordinated strikes by the US and Israel began. The BBC has reached out to the Iranian embassy in India and India's external affairs ministry for further clarification on the movements of the Iranian ships following the docking permissions granted by India.