Sri Lanka invited US-torpedoed IRIS Dena; no warning given, says Iran envoy

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By Editor_1
The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy frigate IRIS Dena (75) at sea during the ‘Maritime Security Belt 2024’ combined naval exercise between Iran, Russia and China in the Gulf of Oman on March 12, 2024 - Iranian Army office/AFP

COLOMBO – Sri Lanka had extended an invitation for Iranian naval vessels, including the ill-fated IRIS Dena, to visit its waters prior to its sinking in a United States submarine attack, Iran’s Ambassador to Colombo, Alireza Delkhosh, said on Monday (23).

Addressing a media briefing, Delkhosh said the invitation was conveyed during the MILAN 2026 naval exercise in India, where the Iranian Navy had participated. He said Sri Lanka had invited three vessels – IRIS Dena, IRIS Boshehr, and IRIS Lavan -for a goodwill visit.

The IRIS Dena, which had departed Tehran before the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, was not on a combat mission, the envoy said, adding that it had taken part in a “peaceful exercise” before heading towards Sri Lanka.

According to the Ambassador, the vessel was attacked without prior warning while en route, resulting in 104 fatalities, with a further 20 personnel reported missing. Sri Lanka rescued 32 survivors, who are currently in the country after receiving treatment.

IRIS Dena was in India for MILAN 2026, an international naval exercise, before sailing toward Sri Lanka.

Delkhosh alleged that the attack was carried out without any prior notification from the United States, stating that some of those killed were not combat personnel.

“During the exercise in India, your navy commander invited the Iranian Navy commander to send these vessels to Sri Lankan waters in order to have friendly visits,” Delkhosh told reporters, adding that the invitation was for all three ships: IRIS Dena, IRIS Boshehr, and IRIS Lavan.

He said IRIS Dena, which left Tehran before the start of the Middle Eastern conflict, was not ready for war.

“It participated in a peaceful exercise in India. During the presence in India, this vessel, with two other vessels, was invited -I repeat, invited -by the Sri Lankan side to come here and just stay. They came here upon their invitation,” he emphasized, adding, “And when they were here, they didn’t receive any alerts in advance from the United States. They attacked it without any war, without any alerts.”

Delkhosh said most of those killed were not armed personnel, but from a music group. “They were playing the saxophone and the violin, and they were killed without any alerts,” he noted.

Sri Lankan authorities have maintained that the Navy Commander’s invitation was informal and not formalized in writing. The government has also said the Iranian Embassy had requested goodwill port calls between March 9 and 13, while the attack on IRIS Dena reportedly occurred on March 4.

Amid claims raised by opposition legislators that the vessel had sought urgent entry into Sri Lankan waters prior to the attack, Delkhosh said he could not confirm reports of any delay.

However, he added that, if such a request had been made, countries had a humanitarian responsibility to provide assistance regardless of neutrality.

-EN/ENCL

Editor_1
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