‘Approached from a point of humanity,’ Jaishankar on why India let Iranian warship dock in Kochi
Kartavya Desk Staff
Three days after the U.S. sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Saturday (March 7, 2026) that the frigate found itself on the “wrong side of events” and that Indian authorities gave permission to another Iranian ship (IRIS Lavan) to dock at Kochi on March 4 as a “humanitarian” gesture.
Also read: Israel-Iran war updates on March 7, 2026
Mr. Jaishankar’s comments at the Raisina Dialogue here came in the backdrop of social media chatter about the drowning of the Iranian frigate, which was returning after attending the MILAN 2026 exercise, conducted by the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam in February. Apart from IRIS Dena, two other Iranian ships – IRIS Lavan and IRIS Bushehr – also participated in the exercise.
“Here’s the situation. We got a message from the Iranian side that one of the ships [IRIS Lavan], which presumably was closest to our waters at that point in time, wanted to come into our port. They were reporting that they were having problems. On the first of March, we said you can come in. It took them a few days to sail in and then they docked in Kochi. People on the ship were a lot of young cadets. They have disembarked and are now in a nearby facility,” Mr. Jaishankar said in a question-and-answer session
Related Stories
• Sri Lanka to treat Iranian sailors according to ‘international law'
Sri Lanka to treat Iranian sailors according to ‘international law'
• U.S. pressing Sri Lanka not to repatriate Iranian crew and survivors from sunken ship, memo says
U.S. pressing Sri Lanka not to repatriate Iranian crew and survivors from sunken ship, memo says
• Watch: Iranian warship strike near Sri Lanka raises questions for India
Watch: Iranian warship strike near Sri Lanka raises questions for India
• India denies assisting U.S. in targeting Iranian vessel; Navy sources call claims baseless
India denies assisting U.S. in targeting Iranian vessel; Navy sources call claims baseless
“We approached the situation from the point of view of humanity, other than whatever the legal issues were, and I think we did the right thing,” Mr. Jaishankar further said.
Referring to the blowing up of IRIS Dena off the coast of Galle, Sri Lanka, in the Indian Ocean, he said, “They were coming in for a fleet review, and then they got in a way caught on the wrong side of events,” he added.
Among those who spoke out on social media after the U.S. torpedoed IRIS Dena was former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal who said: “A word of condolence by the Indian Navy (after political clearance) at the loss of lives of those who were our invitees and saluted our president would be in order.”
Related Stories
• India must ask U.S. why it is targeting Iranian ships in Indian Ocean: Iran Minister Khatibzadeh
India must ask U.S. why it is targeting Iranian ships in Indian Ocean: Iran Minister Khatibzadeh
• Iranian Minister at Raisina Dialogue slams U.S. attack on 'unarmed' vessel returning from India
Iranian Minister at Raisina Dialogue slams U.S. attack on 'unarmed' vessel returning from India
• Indian Navy began search, rescue operations after receiving Iranian ship’s distress call
Indian Navy began search, rescue operations after receiving Iranian ship’s distress call
• U.S. will ‘bitterly regret’ attacking IRIS Dena: Iranian Foreign Minister
U.S. will ‘bitterly regret’ attacking IRIS Dena: Iranian Foreign Minister
Responding to the social media discussion, Mr. Jaishankar said: “There are a lot of social media debates going on over this. Please understand the reality of the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia [a U.S. military base] has been in the Indian Ocean for the last five decades. The fact that there are foreign forces based in Djibouti happened in the early first decade of this century. Hambantota [port in Sri Lanka] came up during this period.”
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, who also participated in the same segment in the Raisina Dialogue, said his government’s response to the IRIS Dena episode was in sync with international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). “We have taken all steps according to the international laws,” Mr. Herath said reiterating that Sri Lanka also acted in keeping with the humanitarian requirements.
Published - March 07, 2026 03:31 pm IST
Related Topics
Israel-US strikes on Iran / diplomacy / international relations / war