India allowed an Iranian naval ship to dock at Kochi in Kerala just days before another Iranian warship was sunk in an attack in the Indian Ocean, according to government sources.
The ship, IRIS Lavan, asked for permission to enter Kochi port after it faced technical problems while sailing in the region. India approved the request on humanitarian grounds, and the vessel docked at Kochi earlier this week.
The ship was carrying 183 crew members. Officials said the crew was allowed to stay at naval facilities while the ship undergoes checks and necessary repairs. Authorities stressed that the permission was given mainly to ensure the safety and well-being of the sailors.
The development gained attention because it happened shortly before another Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, was reportedly sunk in a US attack near Sri Lanka. According to reports, the ship was struck by a torpedo fired from a US submarine while it was sailing through the Indian Ocean.
The attack caused heavy damage to the vessel and resulted in several casualties. Reports said dozens of sailors were killed, while some crew members were rescued by Sri Lankan authorities during search and rescue operations.
Both ships had recently taken part in the MILAN naval exercise, a multinational maritime drill hosted by India in Visakhapatnam. After the exercise ended, the vessels were travelling through the region when the situation escalated.
Indian officials clarified that the decision to allow IRIS Lavan to dock was taken before the attack on IRIS Dena and was unrelated to the conflict. They said the request from the Iranian ship was treated as a humanitarian matter because of the technical issues and the safety of the crew.
India has maintained that providing shelter to the vessel was a routine decision based on maritime rules and international practice when ships face difficulties at sea.
Following the attack on the other Iranian warship, India and Sri Lanka also helped in rescue operations in the area. Naval ships and aircraft were used to search for survivors in the waters where the vessel sank.
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