India permitted an Iranian naval vessel to dock in Kochi after technical trouble, with EAM Jaishankar saying the decision was guided by humanitarian considerations.
India permitted an Iranian naval vessel to dock in Kochi after it reported technical problems, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar saying the decision was guided primarily by humanitarian considerations amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on Saturday, Jaishankar said the Iranian ship had encountered technical difficulties and sought assistance from India while operating in the region.
According to the minister, the request came from Tehran on February 28 when the vessel was believed to be closest to Indian waters.
“We got a message from the Iranian side that one of the ships… wanted to come into our port. They were reporting that they were having problems,” Jaishankar said.
India approved the request on March 1, allowing the vessel to sail to Kochi for assistance.
83 crew members at naval facilities
The Iranian naval ship IRIS Lavan docked at the southern Indian port city of Kochi after developing technical issues while operating in the region.
The ship had earlier participated in the International Fleet Review and the multinational naval exercise MILAN 2026 hosted by the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam between February 15 and February 25.
The vessel reached Kochi on March 4 after New Delhi cleared Iran’s request for emergency docking.
Officials said the ship’s 183 crew members have disembarked and are currently staying at Indian naval facilities in the city while technical assessments are carried out.
Jaishankar noted that the Iranian ships had originally travelled to India for naval engagements before the regional security situation worsened.
“When they set out and came here, the situation was totally different. They were coming in for a fleet review and then they got caught on the wrong side of events,” he said.
“So for us, when this ship wanted to come in — and that too in difficulties — I think it was the humane thing to do.”
Fate of IRIS Dena
Jaishankar also referred to the fate of another Iranian vessel, the frigate IRIS Dena, which sank earlier this week after being struck by a torpedo fired from a submarine of the United States Navy.
The incident reportedly occurred about 40 nautical miles off the southern coast of Galle in Sri Lanka.
According to Sri Lankan authorities, 87 bodies were recovered from the sea while 32 sailors were rescued after the vessel sank while returning from the naval exercise in Visakhapatnam.
The strike was later confirmed by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Jaishankar said India had approached the situation involving the Iranian vessels from a humanitarian perspective despite the complex legal and geopolitical factors involved.
“We really approached it from the point of view of humanity… I think we did the right thing,” he said.
Strategic debate over Indian Ocean
The minister also addressed online debates surrounding the episode and the broader strategic dynamics of the Indian Ocean Region.
He noted that the presence of foreign military bases in the region was not new.
“Please understand the reality of the Indian Ocean,” he said, pointing to long-standing military installations such as the base on Diego Garcia.
Jaishankar also referenced the presence of foreign forces in Djibouti and the development of the port at Hambantota Port, saying such developments have shaped the region’s strategic landscape over the past two decades.
He added that while social media debates can be intense, policy decisions must take into account operational realities and humanitarian considerations.
