What Happened
- Three Iranian warships — IRIS Dena, IRIS Bushehr, and IRIS Lavan — participated in a joint military exercise hosted by India at Visakhapatnam between 15 and 25 February 2026.
- On 28 February 2026, the US and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, triggering an open armed conflict. On the same day, Iran requested permission for three of its ships to dock at Indian ports.
- India granted permission on 1 March. IRIS Lavan docked at Kochi on 4 March; its crew was hosted in Indian naval facilities.
- On 4 March 2026, IRIS Dena was struck and sunk by a torpedo from US submarine USS Charlotte approximately 40 nautical miles south of Galle, Sri Lanka, in international waters. At least 87 of its 130 crew members were killed.
- The sinking — in international waters in the Indian Ocean — marked a dramatic escalation and widening of the US-Iran conflict beyond West Asia.
- Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar publicly confirmed India's decision to grant sanctuary, framing it within India's longstanding principle of humanitarian assistance and dialogue.
- Prime Minister Modi stated that "military conflict can't fix any issue" and called for a swift end to West Asia hostilities.
Static Topic Bridges
UNCLOS and the Right of Innocent Passage
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), adopted in 1982 and entering into force in 1996, is the foundational framework for maritime law. It governs how ships of all nations navigate the world's oceans, defining rights and obligations across different maritime zones.
- Article 17 of UNCLOS grants all ships the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea (12 nautical miles from baseline) of any coastal state.
- Article 19 defines innocent passage as navigation "not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State." Warships conducting offensive operations do not qualify.
- Beyond territorial sea lies the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) — 200 nautical miles from the baseline — where freedom of navigation applies.
- The Indian Ocean where IRIS Dena was sunk (40 nm south of Sri Lanka) falls in international waters (high seas), where the UN Charter principles on freedom of navigation and prohibition of use of force apply.
- There is ongoing debate whether warships require prior notification or authorisation for innocent passage through territorial waters — India requires prior notification; the US does not.
Connection to this news: IRIS Dena was sunk in international waters (high seas), not in any country's territorial waters. This raises questions about freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean and whether the US strike constituted a violation of international law.
India's Policy on Neutrality and Non-Alignment in Armed Conflicts
India follows a policy of "strategic autonomy" — maintaining independent foreign policy positions without being bound by military alliances. This has historically meant India avoids taking sides in armed conflicts between major powers while protecting its own interests.
- India is not a member of NATO or any formal military alliance equivalent. Its closest frameworks are the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), which is not a military alliance.
- India's Non-Alignment tradition, articulated at the Bandung Conference (1955) and through the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), remains a guiding principle — though contemporary Indian foreign policy is better described as multi-alignment.
- During the Russia-Ukraine conflict (2022 onwards), India abstained from UN resolutions condemning Russia, continued buying Russian oil, and pushed for dialogue — a comparable stance.
- Granting sanctuary to Iranian warships signals India's resistance to US pressure while maintaining its neutrality, similar to how it handled Russian diplomatic and economic ties during the Ukraine war.
Connection to this news: India's decision to grant sanctuary to Iranian ships despite an active US-Iran war demonstrates the strategic autonomy doctrine in action — India protected its longstanding ties with Iran while avoiding formal alignment with either belligerent.
India's Strategic Interests in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz
Iran holds a unique position in India's geopolitical calculus due to energy, trade, and connectivity interests that go beyond bilateral relations.
- Roughly 60% of India's crude oil imports and over 60% of its LNG imports transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran borders. Any closure of the Strait would be catastrophic for India's energy security.
- The Chabahar Port agreement (India-Iran-Afghanistan trilateral framework) gives India access to Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing Pakistan. India has invested over $500 million in Chabahar port development.
- India has approximately 9 million diaspora workers in West Asia (Gulf region), with remittances exceeding $45 billion annually — the largest single source of India's foreign remittances.
- India-Iran relations predate the Islamic Republic: the two countries share civilisational ties and a common interest in a stable Afghanistan.
- India reduced Iranian oil imports significantly after 2018-19 US sanctions but resumed limited purchases thereafter.
Connection to this news: India's decision to grant sanctuary to Iranian warships — even at the risk of US displeasure — reflects how high the stakes are for India in maintaining open lines with Tehran, given Chabahar, energy transit through Hormuz, and diaspora security.
International Humanitarian Law and Treatment of Belligerent Vessels
International humanitarian law (IHL), codified in the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, along with the Hague Conventions, governs the conduct of armed conflict at sea.
- The San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea (1994) provides authoritative guidance on naval warfare — including rules on neutral states, belligerent vessels in neutral waters, and the law of naval blockade.
- Under the laws of neutrality, a neutral state may allow belligerent warships to enter its ports for brief periods (humanitarian purposes, repairs) but must ensure they do not use neutral territory as a base for operations.
- If a neutral state allows a belligerent vessel to shelter from attack, this is permissible under international law as a humanitarian gesture — provided the neutral state does not actively assist the belligerent in military operations.
- Sinking a warship in international waters does not violate any specific neutrality rules, but may constitute a violation of the UN Charter prohibition on the use of force depending on circumstances.
Connection to this news: India's grant of sanctuary to Iranian warships falls within the legal bounds of neutral state behaviour under international humanitarian law, provided the vessels do not use Indian territory as a military base of operations.
Key Facts & Data
- IRIS Dena sunk: 4 March 2026, approximately 40 nautical miles south of Galle, Sri Lanka (international waters)
- Crew casualties: at least 87 of 130 killed
- Ship that sank it: USS Charlotte (US Navy submarine), via torpedo
- Iran-India joint exercise: Visakhapatnam, 15-25 February 2026
- US-Israel strikes on Iran began: 28 February 2026
- India granted permission: 1 March 2026 (three days before the sinking)
- IRIS Lavan docked: Kochi, 4 March 2026
- Strait of Hormuz: ~60% of India's crude imports and LNG transit through it
- India diaspora in West Asia: ~9 million workers, $45 billion+ in annual remittances
- UNCLOS adopted 1982, entered into force 1996
- India's Chabahar Port investment: over $500 million