Iran warship sunk by the US was on way back from exhibition hosted by India

The sinking ignited a significant debate within India regarding maritime security in the strategically vital Indian Ocean NewsWorldMiddle EastIran warship sunk by the US was on way back from exhibition hosted by IndiaThe sinking ignited a significant debate within India regarding maritime security in the strategically vital Indian OceanSheikh Saaliq & Krishan FrancisThursday 05 March 2026 11:56 GMTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoveropen image in galleryThis frame grab from a video released by the US Department of Defense on March 4, 2026, shows what the Department of Defense says is periscope footage of a US Navy submarine firing on and sinking an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean (US Department of Defense)Your support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreAn Iranian warship, the IRIS Dena, was sunk by a US submarine in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka, shortly after participating in naval exercises hosted by India. The incident, which saw 87 bodies recovered and 32 Iranian sailors rescued by the Sri Lankan navy, marks a rare instance of a submarine torpedoing a vessel since the Second World War.New Delhi confirmed the warship's involvement in its exercises before it headed home, and the sinking has intensified scrutiny on the escalating US-Israeli conflict with Iran, demonstrating its widening geographical scope. It has also ignited a significant debate within India regarding maritime security in the strategically vital Indian Ocean, where the nation maintains a substantial naval presence.Sri Lanka's navy responded to a distress signal from the IRIS Dena, but upon reaching the location, found only patches of oil and sailors adrift in the water, with no sign of the vessel itself. The rescued mariners were subsequently transported to a hospital in Galle, on Sri Lanka’s southern coast.U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the sinking illustrates the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran is stretching beyond its borders and described IRIS Dena as a “prize ship.” U.S. President Donald Trump has said one of the key objectives of the war is to wipe out Iran’s navy.open image in galleryMotorcycle mounted policemen patrol at the National Hospital where rescued Iranian sailors from the IRIS Dena warship by the Sri Lankan Navy are receiving treatment, in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) (AP)A video released by the U.S. Department of Defense on X showed the moment of the torpedo attack. The Iranian ship appears to be hit by an underwater explosion that causes it to break apart, as a large plume of water rises up in the air.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. Navy of committing an “an atrocity at sea” in sinking the frigate and said on social media on Thursday that the United States “will come to bitterly regret” the attack. India’s navy and defense ministry said the Iranian warship had participated in the International Fleet Review and the multilateral naval exercise MILAN 2026, organized by the Indian navy in the port of Visakhapatnam from Feb. 15 to Feb. 25. The ministry said 74 countries had joined the events.The Iranian warship was seen sailing at sea during the exercises in a Feb. 17 post on X by the Indian navy. Another image showed several of its crew members posing on deck with the Iranian flag in the background.Araghchi stressed that the frigate had been “a guest" of India's navy. The Indian government has not yet publicly commented on the incident.India has long viewed the Indian Ocean as central to its security, with its navy regularly conducting patrols and multinational exercises to safeguard key sea lanes used for global trade and energy shipments. It has also traditionally sought to maintain a careful diplomatic balance in tensions between the U.S. and Iran while emphasizing on diplomacy and talks. open image in galleryNurses exit the National Hospital, where the sailors rescued from IRIS Dena warship by Sri Lanka's navy are treated in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)Indian opposition leaders, however, on Thursday questioned