New Delhi, India – Web Desk: India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar defended the government’s decision to permit three Iranian naval vessels to dock at Indian ports, stating it was the “right thing to do” amid the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
Speaking in parliament on March 9, 2026, Jaishankar confirmed that Iran requested permission on March 1, which was granted. One of the ships docked at Kochi port in southern India on March 4, with its crew currently at Indian naval facilities.
The remarks follow the sinking of Iranian frigate IRIS Dena by a US submarine off Sri Lanka’s southern coast, resulting in dozens of sailors killed. Sri Lanka’s deputy foreign minister identified the warship as the IRIS Dena, noting it was returning to Iran from an eastern Indian port after participating in India’s Milan multilateral naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal.
The Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command had welcomed the IRIS Dena to Visakhapatnam on February 17, highlighting long-standing cultural links between the two nations and sharing images of the vessel and its officers. The exercise reflected India’s engagement with regional navies, including Iran, prior to the current conflict.
An Indian Navy spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment on the sinking.
The docking decision has drawn attention amid heightened regional tensions, with the Middle East war disrupting global shipping, including in the Strait of Hormuz, and pushing oil prices above $100 per barrel. India’s position underscores its policy of strategic autonomy and balanced relations in the region, even as the conflict escalates.
