New Delhi, March 7 — External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar defended India’s decision to permit the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Lavan to dock in Kochi, describing the move as a humanitarian response after the sinking of another Iranian ship, IRIS Dena, in international waters.
Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, Jaishankar said India received a request from Iran when IRIS Lavan, which had been participating in the International Fleet Review and MILAN 2026 (Feb 15–25), reported technical problems. New Delhi approved the docking on March 1. The ship entered Indian waters over several days and was berthed in Kochi; its 183 crew members are being accommodated at naval facilities there. Jaishankar noted many aboard were young cadets who had come for the fleet review and were then affected by subsequent events.
He called the sinking of IRIS Dena unfortunate. After Dena sent a distress call that was picked up by MRCC Colombo, the Indian Navy launched search-and-rescue operations, including deploying a long-range maritime patrol aircraft to assist Sri Lanka-led efforts.
Jaishankar said India’s decision to receive IRIS Lavan was driven by humanitarian considerations rather than being limited to legal arguments. He noted that another Iranian vessel faced a related situation in Sri Lanka and that one ship had not survived.
Turning to broader regional dynamics, Jaishankar urged recognition of the Indian Ocean’s realities and history of foreign military and logistics footprints—citing Diego Garcia’s five-decade presence, bases in Djibouti, and infrastructure developments such as Hambantota. He highlighted India’s investments in regional development and characterized the Indian Ocean as being in a phase of recovery and rebuilding, with efforts underway to restore trade patterns, enhance connectivity and pursue practical projects.
Building an Indian Ocean identity, he said, will require sustained resources, commitments and diplomatic work. Jaishankar argued that India’s central geographic position in the Indian Ocean allows its growth to benefit neighboring countries that choose to cooperate with it, and reiterated that India’s rise will ultimately be shaped by its own strengths.
He also emphasized maritime safety, noting the importance of protecting merchant shipping and seafarers. Many merchant vessels are partly crewed by Indians, and recent attacks have led to fatalities. With an estimated 9–10 million Indians living in the Gulf, he said their welfare and the safety of Indian merchant mariners should figure prominently in policy decisions alongside economic and energy priorities.
This report is sourced from a syndicated feed and published as received.
