India granted permission for three Iranian naval vessels to dock at its ports after a request from Iran, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar informed Parliament on Monday, following heightened tensions in the Indian Ocean after the reported sinking of an Iranian warship by the United States last week.
According to the minister, Iran sought permission on February 28 for three of its ships operating in the region to dock at Indian ports. The Indian government approved the request the following day. One of the vessels, the Iranian naval ship IRIS Lavan, subsequently docked at the southern port city of Kochi on March 4, with its crew currently accommodated at Indian naval facilities.
“This was the right thing to do from a humanitarian perspective,” Jaishankar said, adding that Iran’s foreign minister conveyed appreciation to India for the gesture.
The development comes amid escalating maritime tensions after the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was reportedly sunk by a United States submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka on March 4. The incident raised concerns about the possible spillover of the ongoing West Asia conflict into the Indian Ocean region. At least 87 Iranian sailors were reported killed in the attack.
The warship had been returning to Iran after participating in the multinational naval exercise MILAN naval exercise and the International Fleet Review hosted by India earlier.
In a related development, another Iranian vessel, IRINS Bushehr, was allowed to dock at the eastern Sri Lankan port of Trincomalee after requesting entry due to an engine malfunction.
Addressing concerns over the broader impact of the West Asia conflict, Jaishankar also reassured Parliament about India’s energy security. He said the government is closely monitoring global energy markets as supply disruptions emerge due to the escalating situation.
“The government remains fully committed to ensuring India’s energy security, taking into account availability, costs and risks in global energy markets,” he said.
Jaishankar added that protecting the interests of Indian consumers remains the government’s top priority and that Indian diplomacy continues to support domestic energy companies navigating the volatile geopolitical environment.
