India swiftly approved urgent docking for the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Lavan at Kochi port, providing safe harbour just days before a US submarine sank its sister ship IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka. We were amongst the first publications to report there were three Iranian ships involved in these regional incidents, not just one, highlighting the broader naval drama unfolding.
On February 28, 2026, Iran requested emergency permission for IRIS Lavan to dock at Kochi due to technical issues, as the vessel returned from a joint naval exercise with India. Approval came on March 1, and the ship arrived on March 4, carrying 183 crew members now accommodated at local naval facilities.
This followed Sri Lanka’s detention of the IRIS Bushehr after the IRIS Dena strike, where 208 crew were offloaded on humanitarian grounds. IRIS Dena, also post-India exercise, was hit in international waters south of Sri Lanka, killing at least 87 personnel.
The Indian Ocean has become a flashpoint, with US submarines targeting Iranian assets amid fears of blockade disruptions. Iran’s navy, stretched thin, has sought repairs in neutral ports like Kochi, underscoring India’s delicate balancing act between Western allies and Tehran ties. This marks the third Iranian ship incident here recently—IRIS Lavan being the latest—amid reports of over 80 total casualties across strikes.
India’s quick clearance reflects longstanding naval cooperation, including prior goodwill visits, while avoiding entanglement in the war. Kochi’s shipyard facilities proved vital again, hosting the crew as diplomacy plays out.
