'Will bitterly regret': Iran's blatant warning after IRIS Dena sunk by US submarine
PTC News Desk: A day after US submarine sunk an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, Seyed Abbas Aragchi, the foreign minister of Iran condemned the incident and warned that the US would "pay bitterly" for targeting a ship in international waters.
While calling the incident an 'atrocity at sea', he further said that the vessel had been visiting the Indian Navy and carried about 130 sailors.
Araghchi posted on social media platform X on Thursday saying, "The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores."
The U.S. has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores.
Frigate Dena, a guest of India's Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning.
Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret precedent it has set. pic.twitter.com/cxYiI9BLUk — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 5, 2026
The frigate IRIS Dena, a guest of India's Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning, said the Iran Foreign Minister, adding, "Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set."
The IRIS Dena, a frigate-class warship, had recently taken part in the MILAN International Fleet Review in the Bay of Bengal from February 18 to 25, where it was welcomed by the Indian Navy. The vessel was returning from Visakhapatnam when it was targeted in international waters. Reports suggest that around 80 people on board the warship may have been killed in the American attack.
The Sri Lanka Navy has so far rescued about 30 sailors from the vessel. The survivors were taken to Karapitiya Hospital in the southern port city of Galle for medical treatment.
The incident is being seen as a major escalation after Israel and the United States carried out airstrikes on Iran on February 28. The strikes reportedly eliminated several top Iranian leaders, including the country’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Since then, Iran has been launching drones and missiles at countries hosting American bases as well as some that do not, turning much of the Middle East into a conflict zone.
Earlier, a video shared by the United States Department of War showed unclassified drone footage of the IRIS Dena at the moment it was struck. The warship initially appeared intact and moving steadily across calm waters. Moments later, a massive explosion erupted near the stern, sending a huge plume of white water, fire and debris into the air.
- With inputs from agencies
