Tehran: Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi today condemned the United States for the “atrocity at sea” that sank the Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena. Warning that Washington will “bitterly regret” this unprecedented strike, Araghchi blasted the US for targeting a vessel that had just concluded a goodwill visit with the Indian Navy.
The Attack: A Historic Escalation
An American submarine torpedoed and sank the IRIS Dena on March 4 in international waters off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. This strike marks the first time since World War II that a US submarine has used a torpedo to sink an enemy ship.
The frigate carried approximately 130 sailors and was returning to Iran from naval engagements in India when the torpedo struck.
“The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores,” Araghchi posted on X. “Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy, was struck in international waters without warning. Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”
From Diplomacy to Conflict
The IRIS Dena had recently participated in the Milan International Fleet Review in the Bay of Bengal (February 18–25). The Indian Navy had officially welcomed the vessel to Visakhapatnam, citing “long-standing cultural links” between the two nations.
While 74 countries participated in the exercise, the United States withdrew its destroyer, the USS Pinckney, shortly before the event began. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth openly acknowledged the strike, framing the sinking as a display of American naval dominance.
“An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Hegseth remarked. “Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death.”
Rescue and Regional Tension
Following the sinking, the Sri Lankan Navy launched an immediate rescue operation, so far saving 30 sailors from the water. Rescuers transported the survivors to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle for medical treatment.
This maritime strike further inflames a rapidly expanding conflict. The war began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran’s missile and nuclear facilities, reportedly resulting in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
