Source The Hindu
As tensions continue to rise in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, the Indian government has revealed new details about the movements of Iranian naval vessels in the region. Officials confirmed that the Iranian ship IRIS Lavan had docked at the port city of Kochi just days before the controversial sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean.
According to government sources, the crew and vessel of IRIS Lavan were present in Kochi during a scheduled visit linked to naval engagements and routine maritime cooperation. The revelation comes as international scrutiny intensifies following the destruction of IRIS Dena, which was reportedly struck by a torpedo from a U.S. submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka. The attack killed dozens of sailors and significantly escalated tensions in the already volatile Middle East conflict.
Indian officials clarified that the docking of IRIS Lavan in Kochi occurred before the incident involving IRIS Dena and was unrelated to the strike. Authorities emphasized that India had no role in the attack and dismissed claims suggesting that the Indian Navy shared intelligence with the United States regarding the Iranian vessel. Government sources described such allegations as “baseless and preposterous.”
The ill-fated IRIS Dena had recently taken part in the multinational naval exercise MILAN 2026 naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam. After leaving India at the end of the exercise in late February, the warship was returning to Iran when it was targeted in international waters near Sri Lanka.
Following the attack, Indian naval authorities coordinated with regional partners to assist in rescue operations. Aircraft and vessels were deployed to help search for survivors and missing crew members in the waters near Sri Lanka as part of humanitarian efforts.
The developments highlight how the Israel-Iran conflict is increasingly spilling beyond the Middle East into the wider Indian Ocean region, drawing attention from countries such as India that are trying to maintain neutrality while ensuring maritime safety in nearby waters.
