A Sri Lanka Navy vessel approaches an Iranian vessel during a rescue operation, a day after the crew of a distressed Iranian military ship, IRIS Dena were assisted in waters south of Sri Lanka, off the coast of Colombo, Sri Lanka March 5, 2026. (A representative image)
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SRI LANKAN NAVY
An Iranian warship, IRIS Lavan, has been permitted to dock at Cochin Port after the vessel reported technical problems while operating in the region.
Government sources said the ship, carrying 183 crew members, requested permission on February 28 to enter the port for repairs. The request was approved on March 1, and the vessel anchored at the port on March 4. The crew members have been provided accommodation at nearby naval facilities.
Sources said that the development comes days after the incident involving the Iranian warship IRIS Dena south of Sri Lanka. IRIS Lavan was also present in the region around the same time.
The development comes amid rising tensions in the Indian Ocean region following reports that the United States sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka after it was reportedly struck by a torpedo fired from a US submarine.
Published on March 6, 2026
