India offered sanctuary to Iranian ship three days before US sank it

March 9, 2026

India granted docking permission to three Iranian warships on March 1, three days before a US submarine torpedoed one of them in international waters near Sri Lanka. The vessels had previously participated in Indian military exercises and requested port access on February 28, the same day US-Israeli operations against Iran commenced. The Iris Dena was struck on March 4, killing at least 87 crew members in what marked the conflict's first military action outside the Middle East.

Who is affected

At least 87 Iranian sailors killed on the Iris Dena (130 total crew members were aboard)
Surviving crew members of the Iris Lavan currently housed in Indian naval facilities
Iran's navy, which has lost approximately 20 vessels including the Iris Dena
India, whose regional authority and decision-making regarding port access has been questioned
Sri Lanka, in whose search-and-rescue zone the attack occurred
The crew of Iris Bushehr, which experienced engine malfunction

What action is being taken

The crew of Iris Lavan is currently being housed in Indian naval facilities in Kochi
The BBC is seeking clarification from the Iranian embassy in India and India's external affairs ministry regarding the movements of the three Iranian naval vessels
The US is conducting ongoing military operations against Iran, with approximately one-quarter of its submarine fleet at sea at any given time

Why it matters

This incident represents a dramatic escalation of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, marking the first military strike outside the Middle East since operations began. The attack in international waters near India and Sri Lanka raises significant questions about regional security, sovereignty, and India's ability to maintain authority in its strategic backyard. The sinking demonstrates the global reach of US military operations and signals that Iranian vessels are vulnerable even thousands of miles from their home waters, potentially affecting future naval movements and diplomatic relationships in the Indian Ocean region.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC