Washington, United States – Web Desk: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington had sunk an armed Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, making the claim during an emergency press briefing at the Pentagon.
Speaking to reporters, Hegseth stated that the United States targeted and destroyed an Iranian naval vessel using a torpedo. However, he did not disclose the name of the ship allegedly struck.
The statement follows reports from Sri Lankan authorities that an Iranian naval vessel sank off the country’s coast with around 180 personnel on board. According to Sri Lanka’s defense officials, at least 80 bodies have been recovered, while more than 30 individuals were rescued during an ongoing maritime search operation.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that emergency distress signals were received from the ship earlier in the day, prompting an immediate rescue effort. The exact cause of the sinking has not yet been confirmed.
Indian Navy’s Eastern Command said the vessel was present in the region to participate in the IRFN Milan 2026 naval exercise. Neither Tehran nor Washington has officially confirmed whether the vessel reported sunk near Sri Lanka is the same ship referenced by the US defense secretary.
Iran has so far not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
Reports identify the vessel as IRIS Dena, part of Iran’s 86th Naval Fleet. The domestically built warship is approximately 95 meters long and weighs around 1,500 tons.
Details of the Vessel
The ship was reportedly equipped with Noor and Qader anti-ship missiles, a 76mm Fajr-27 naval gun, and 30mm weapon systems. Between 2022 and 2023, it completed a 65,000-kilometer global maritime voyage and was widely seen as a symbol of Iran’s expanding naval capabilities.
Opposition lawmakers in Sri Lanka have questioned whether the sinking could be linked to escalating US-Israel operations against Iran. However, no official confirmation has been provided regarding the cause of the incident.
The development comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, raising fresh concerns over maritime security in the Indian Ocean and broader regional stability.
