Iran on Thursday condemned the sinking of its naval frigate IRIS Dena by a United States submarine in the Indian Ocean, describing the vessel as “a guest of India’s Navy” after it had recently participated in India’s multinational naval exercise MILAN 2026 and the International Fleet Review.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a strong response in a post on X, accusing Washington of carrying out what he termed an “atrocity at sea” thousands of miles from Iran’s shores.
Araghchi said the warship had around 130 sailors on board and was returning to Iran after taking part in naval events hosted by India when it was struck by a torpedo in international waters.
“The IRIS Dena was a guest of India’s Navy and was attacked without warning while sailing back home. The United States will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set,” the Iranian foreign minister said.
The U.S. has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores.
Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning.
Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret precedent it has set. pic.twitter.com/cxYiI9BLUk
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 5, 2026
The IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate of the Iranian Navy, had earlier taken part in MILAN 2026, a major maritime exercise hosted by India that brought together 42 warships, 29 aircraft and naval delegations from 74 countries.
The vessel also participated in India’s International Fleet Review 2026, held from February 15 to February 25, and had made a port call at Visakhapatnam, where dozens of international naval ships were hosted.
According to reports, the warship was later torpedoed by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean while returning to Iran, marking what analysts say is the first instance since World War II of a submarine sinking another vessel using a torpedo.
Officials said at least 87 sailors have been confirmed dead, while several others remain missing following the incident.
Araghchi described the attack as a violation of international maritime norms, warning that the action could escalate tensions in the region.
He said the strike signaled that the United States no longer considered international waters a neutral sanctuary for Iranian naval assets.
The incident has raised concerns among analysts about possible military escalation in the region, as the United States and its allies continue operations against Iranian forces. [KNT]
