India did all to help: Iran envoy ends debate on sinking of IRIS Dena
India Today
The sinking of the IRIS Dena, which was returning from a naval exercise in Visakhapatnam, by a US submarine near Sri Lanka triggered a legal and moral debate. Iran's envoy Mohammad Fathali has now put an end to the debate with his remarks at the India Today Conclave 2026.
The IRIS Dena, an Iranian frigate that was in India to participate in a multilateral naval exercise, was torpedoed by the US on March 4 while on its return journey. The American strike, in which over 100 crew members were killed, sparked a heated debate in India because it took place in India's sphere of influence and the warship was returning from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The remarks of Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, would put an end to that debate.
On being asked at the India Today Conclave 2026 on Saturday to remark on the assistance and response from India and Sri Lanka on Iran's ships, Mohammad Fathali said, "The government of India has really helped us".
"Let me just talk about Iran and India. I am the Iranian ambassador to India. Let me not talk about the third country you mentioned. As an ambassador, I should see everything precisely," Fathali said.
"The government of India regarding these ships really helped us. They accepted our request. Unfortunately, some other countries refused to cooperate," he said.
"Despite all of this, we will definitely give them a response, and part of that we have done. Definitely you will hear good news in a few days. Iran doesn't leave any action without a response," the Iranian ambassador said.
While the IRIS Dena was torpedoed, India gave shelter to another Iranian warship, IRIS Lavan, in Kochi on March 4.
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