Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Thursday accused the United States of committing atrocities in connection with the attack on Iran’s IRIS Dena 75 frigate. An American submarine hit and sank the frigate the day before off the coast of Sri Lanka. According to Arákči, Washington regrets this attack, reports TASR based on a report by the AFP agency.
- Iran has accused the United States of committing atrocities in the sinking of the frigate.
- An American submarine struck and sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka.
- The frigate Dena was returning to Iran after a port visit in East India.
- The incident is the first case since World War II of an enemy ship being sunk by a submarine.
- At least 87 sailors died in the attack and dozens remain missing.
“The US has committed an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles off the coast of Iran. The frigate Dena, a guest of the Indian Navy with nearly 130 sailors on board, was attacked without warning in international waters,” said Arákčí on the X platform. “Take my word for it: The US will deeply regret this precedent it has set,” he added.
The frigate was returning to Iran from a port in eastern India at the time of the attack. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the incident the first time since World War II that a US submarine destroyed an enemy ship. He added that the US military attacked with the help of a torpedo.
According to Sri Lankan authorities, at least 87 sailors died in the incident. Reuters reports that 32 others survived the attack and are recovering in a hospital in the city of Gali in southern Sri Lanka. Search and rescue operations for approximately 60 people who were also on board the frigate will continue on Thursday, according to the authorities.
