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US attack on Iranian shipping: Jaishankar's explanation of 'stuck in the wrong place'
New Delhi, March 7, 2026 (Online Lokmat): Explaining India's position on the torpedo attack on the Iranian frigate 'IRIS Dena' by a US submarine in the backdrop of geopolitical tensions in the Indian Ocean, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said that the ship was "stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time." He underlined that India had given shelter to the damaged ship at the Kochi port from a humanitarian point of view, and this decision was right.
Speaking at an event organized here, Jaishankar said that on March 1, India had received a message from Iran that one of its ships, which was near the Indian border, wanted to stop at the port due to technical problems. There were several young cadets on board the ship. India immediately gave permission and it reached the Kochi port within a few days. "The situation was completely different. They were coming for a fleet review, but then somehow they got stuck on the wrong side," Jaishankar said.
On March 4, an Iranian frigate was hit by a torpedo fired by a US submarine in international waters near Galle, about 40 nautical miles off Sri Lanka's southern coast. The ship sank, killing 80 to 87 people. Sri Lankan authorities recovered 87 bodies, while 32 were rescued alive and given medical treatment in Galle. Dozens are still missing. Another Iranian ship had also sought refuge in Sri Lanka, but unfortunately could not be rescued there.
"We looked at the situation from a humanitarian perspective and I am sure we took the right action," Jaishankar said. He also noted that India supports the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and international law. Responding to the ongoing debate on social media over the incident, Jaishankar called for an understanding of the geopolitical realities in the Indian Ocean.
He recalled that Diego Garcia has been operating as a foreign military base in the Indian Ocean for the past five decades. At the beginning of this century, a foreign power base was set up in Djibouti, and Sri Lanka's Hambantota port was developed during the same period. "India is fulfilling its responsibilities by understanding the complexities of the region," Jaishankar explained.
The incident has increased tensions in the Indian Ocean, and India has expressed its determination to act responsibly for peace and stability.
New Delhi, March 7, 2026 (Online Lokmat): Explaining India's position on the torpedo attack on the Iranian frigate 'IRIS Dena' by a US submarine in the backdrop of geopolitical tensions in the Indian Ocean, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said that the ship was "stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time." He underlined that India had given shelter to the damaged ship at the Kochi port from a humanitarian point of view, and this decision was right.
Speaking at an event organized here, Jaishankar said that on March 1, India had received a message from Iran that one of its ships, which was near the Indian border, wanted to stop at the port due to technical problems. There were several young cadets on board the ship. India immediately gave permission and it reached the Kochi port within a few days. "The situation was completely different. They were coming for a fleet review, but then somehow they got stuck on the wrong side," Jaishankar said.
On March 4, an Iranian frigate was hit by a torpedo fired by a US submarine in international waters near Galle, about 40 nautical miles off Sri Lanka's southern coast. The ship sank, killing 80 to 87 people. Sri Lankan authorities recovered 87 bodies, while 32 were rescued alive and given medical treatment in Galle. Dozens are still missing. Another Iranian ship had also sought refuge in Sri Lanka, but unfortunately could not be rescued there.
"We looked at the situation from a humanitarian perspective and I am sure we took the right action," Jaishankar said. He also noted that India supports the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and international law. Responding to the ongoing debate on social media over the incident, Jaishankar called for an understanding of the geopolitical realities in the Indian Ocean.
He recalled that Diego Garcia has been operating as a foreign military base in the Indian Ocean for the past five decades. At the beginning of this century, a foreign power base was set up in Djibouti, and Sri Lanka's Hambantota port was developed during the same period. "India is fulfilling its responsibilities by understanding the complexities of the region," Jaishankar explained.
The incident has increased tensions in the Indian Ocean, and India has expressed its determination to act responsibly for peace and stability.
Speaking at an event organized here, Jaishankar said that on March 1, India had received a message from Iran that one of its ships, which was near the Indian border, wanted to stop at the port due to technical problems. There were several young cadets on board the ship. India immediately gave permission and it reached the Kochi port within a few days. "The situation was completely different. They were coming for a fleet review, but then somehow they got stuck on the wrong side," Jaishankar said.
On March 4, an Iranian frigate was hit by a torpedo fired by a US submarine in international waters near Galle, about 40 nautical miles off Sri Lanka's southern coast. The ship sank, killing 80 to 87 people. Sri Lankan authorities recovered 87 bodies, while 32 were rescued alive and given medical treatment in Galle. Dozens are still missing. Another Iranian ship had also sought refuge in Sri Lanka, but unfortunately could not be rescued there.
"We looked at the situation from a humanitarian perspective and I am sure we took the right action," Jaishankar said. He also noted that India supports the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and international law. Responding to the ongoing debate on social media over the incident, Jaishankar called for an understanding of the geopolitical realities in the Indian Ocean.
He recalled that Diego Garcia has been operating as a foreign military base in the Indian Ocean for the past five decades. At the beginning of this century, a foreign power base was set up in Djibouti, and Sri Lanka's Hambantota port was developed during the same period. "India is fulfilling its responsibilities by understanding the complexities of the region," Jaishankar explained.
The incident has increased tensions in the Indian Ocean, and India has expressed its determination to act responsibly for peace and stability.
