Iranian warship sank by US sub in Indian Ocean, Hegseth says
BBC World
March 4, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
An Iranian warship, the Iris Dena, was sunk by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka's southern coast. The incident occurred on Tuesday when the submarine launched a torpedo, leading to the vessel's sinking and leaving around 140 people feared missing. Rescuers found 80 bodies and rescued 32 crew members. This marks the first time since World War Two that an American submarine has sunk an enemy ship using torpedoes.
The US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, announced the attack during a press conference, claiming it targeted a ship that believed it was in international waters. While this is a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran, other nations like the UK and Pakistan have also sunk ships with torpedoes since 1945. The sinking of the Iris Dena comes amid continued airstrikes by the US and Israel on Iranian targets, including security headquarters in Tehran.
The incident raises questions about Sri Lanka's role in the rescue efforts despite its neutrality in the conflict. While the ship was outside Sri Lankan waters, the country still responded to a distress call and launched search operations, finding oil patches and life rafts but no other ships nearby. The Iris Dena, part of Iran's Southern Fleet, had recently participated in the International Fleet Review 2026 in the Bay of Bengal.
This event highlights the escalating tensions between the US and Iran and underscores the dangers of naval conflicts in international waters. Sri Lanka's involvement in rescue operations adds a layer of complexity to its neutral stance, as it continues to call for de-escalation while expressing condolences over conflict-related deaths, including those of Iranian leaders.
The sinking of the Iris Dena is a significant development in the ongoing US-Iran conflict, raising concerns about regional stability and the potential for further escalations. As global powers navigate this volatile situation, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in modern naval warfare and its far-reaching consequences.
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Originally published on BBC World on 3/4/2026