Iran Vows Retaliation After US Sinks Warship Near Sri Lanka, Raising Pressure On India
The sinking of an Iranian warship by the United States off the coast of Sri Lanka has brought the deepening Middle East conflict closer to India’s maritime neighbourhood, complicating New Delhi’s carefully balanced diplomatic stance, as per Bloomberg.
A US submarine sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena on Wednesday in Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone in the Indian Ocean.
According to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, the strike marked the first time since World War II that an American submarine torpedoed an enemy surface vessel. Thirty-two sailors were rescued, while more than 100 are reported missing or dead.
Iran swiftly condemned the attack. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described it as an “atrocity” and said the US would “come to bitterly regret” the action. Tehran has vowed retaliation, further escalating tensions.
The episode has drawn attention in India because the IRIS Dena had recently participated in the International Fleet Review hosted by New Delhi from Feb. 15 to 25.
The naval exercise included ships from around 40 countries, including the US and Russia.
It remains unclear whether Washington informed India in advance about its military operation in the region. India’s Ministries of Defence and External Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The US Embassy in New Delhi also did not issue a statement.
The strike took place in a busy shipping corridor in the Indian Ocean, an area critical for global trade. India frequently conducts joint patrols with Sri Lanka in these waters, and the reported presence of a US submarine has added to concerns over maritime security and regional stability.
The development also places Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a delicate position.
His government has already faced criticism at home for not explicitly condemning recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Opposition leaders have questioned India’s diplomatic silence, especially after Modi’s recent visit to Israel, where he met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
India maintains longstanding ties with Iran and has historically imported significant volumes of Iranian oil. At the same time, New Delhi’s relationship with Washington remains strategically important, particularly amid ongoing trade negotiations and security cooperation.
(With inputs from Bloomberg)
