Iran has accused the United States of committing an “atrocity at sea” after an Iranian naval frigate was struck in international waters near Sri Lanka yesterday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, carrying nearly 130 sailors, was attacked without warning while sailing in international waters after participating in a naval event hosted by India.
“The U.S. has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores,” Araghchi said in a statement. He added that the frigate had been a guest of the Indian Navy and warned that Washington would “bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”
The IRIS Dena reportedly came under attack off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan authorities said a rescue operation was launched after the vessel was found in distress about 40 nautical miles off Galle.
Personnel from the Sri Lanka Navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from the sea and brought them ashore. The survivors were admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Officials said more than 80 bodies have been recovered so far, while many others remain missing as search and rescue operations continue in waters south of the island.
The frigate had been returning after participating in the 2026 International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam, India.
The United States has stated that a US submarine struck the Iranian warship with a torpedo, marking the first such attack by a US submarine since World War II.
