Iranian Warship IRIS Lavan Docks in Kochi Amid Regional Tensions
The Iranian warship IRIS Lavan has docked at Kochi following urgent requests from Tehran due to technical issues. The vessel's 183 crew members are currently housed at naval facilities in Kochi. The docking request was made on February 28, just days after the sinking of the frigate IRIS Dena by a US submarine near Sri Lanka, which resulted in the deaths of at least 87 sailors. The IRIS Lavan was in the region for the International Fleet Review and MILAN 2026, held from February 15 to February 25. India approved the docking on March 1, and the ship arrived on March 4. The incident has raised concerns about the escalating US-Iran conflict and its implications for maritime security in the Indian Ocean region.
Published 7 hours ago • 06 Mar 2026, 10:25 PM IST