Reported from the source

Quick summary: A US Navy submarine sank an Iranian frigate, the IRIS Dena, off the coast of Sri Lanka on March 4, 2026, killing at least 87 sailors. The Iranian vessel was returning from an Indian-hosted naval exercise, MILAN 2026. The incident has tested India’s policy of neutrality in the US-Iran conflict, drawing criticism from domestic opposition for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initial silence, despite India later providing shelter to other Iranian ships.

On March 4, 2026, a US Navy attack submarine sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in international waters approximately 20 nautical miles (37 kilometers) off Sri Lanka’s southern coast. The attack, which resulted in the deaths of at least 87 Iranian sailors, marked a significant escalation in the US-Iran conflict outside the Persian Gulf. The IRIS Dena was returning from the multinational naval exercise MILAN 2026, hosted by the Indian military, and was reportedly “essentially defenseless” as participating vessels typically do not carry ammunition during such exercises. The incident sparked backlash in India, particularly as the vessel had been a guest of the Indian navy and the sinking occurred in an area where India seeks to assert maritime leadership. Initially, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs maintained silence. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar later commented that the sinking was part of the “reality of the Indian Ocean,” stating the Iranian sailors were “caught on the wrong side of events.” India’s restrained public response aligns with its foreign policy of avoiding direct criticism of strategic partners and calling for de-escalation. However, opposition parties, including Rahul Gandhi, criticized Modi’s silence as weakness and a surrender of strategic autonomy, demanding condemnation of the US action and a parliamentary discussion on the economic fallout of the Middle East crisis. Despite the diplomatic tightrope, India granted emergency docking to three other Iranian vessels, with their crews currently in Indian naval facilities, an action for which the Iranian foreign minister expressed thanks. India is also working to repatriate its citizens stranded in conflict zones in the Gulf. Security and strategic affairs experts noted the incident illustrates the reach of American undersea warfare, with Commodore Uday Bhaskar suggesting control of oceans rests with those possessing advanced surveillance and underwater ordnance. Veteran diplomat Kanwal Sibal highlighted the irony of the strike occurring after the Iranian ship participated in an exercise named “MILAN” (coming together), suggesting the US ignored India’s understandings. The event has also contributed to an underlying sense of irritation in India towards Washington, stemming from issues like stalled trade negotiations and past comments by US President Donald Trump. Tara Kartha, a former National Security Council Secretariat member, suggested India felt “embarrassed” by the US action, especially given India’s role as a friendly country and its operational coordination with the US.

Source: www.dw.com