New Delhi: An Iranian sailor aboard the warship IRIS Dena, which was sunk by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean, reportedly told his father that American forces had issued two warnings asking the crew to abandon the ship before the strike.

According to a report by Iran International, the sailor made the phone call shortly before the attack, informing his father that US forces had warned the crew to leave the vessel.

Conflicting Accounts of the Attack

The report contrasts with earlier statements from Iranian officials who claimed the ship had been attacked without warning in international waters.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi had described the strike as an “atrocity at sea” and accused the United States of attacking the vessel unexpectedly.

However, the sailor’s alleged account suggests the US military had warned the crew twice before launching the strike.

According to the report, the warship’s commander allegedly refused to allow the crew to abandon the vessel, even after receiving warnings. Some crew members reportedly argued with the commander before the attack took place.

Warship Sunk Near Sri Lanka

The Iranian Moudge-class frigate IRIS Dena was torpedoed by a US Navy submarine on March 4 in the Indian Ocean, roughly 19 nautical miles off the southern coast of Sri Lanka near Galle.

The attack killed dozens of sailors and marked a major escalation in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.

Sri Lankan authorities launched a search-and-rescue operation after receiving a distress call from the vessel.

Officials reported recovering 87 bodies and rescuing 32 survivors, while several sailors remain missing.

Indian Navy Joins Rescue Efforts

The incident also drew attention in India because the warship had recently visited Visakhapatnam to participate in International Fleet Review 2026 and the multinational naval exercise MILAN 2026 hosted by the Indian Navy.

Following the attack, India assisted rescue efforts by deploying maritime patrol aircraft and naval ships to support search operations coordinated with Sri Lankan authorities.

Rising Regional Tensions

The sinking of the IRIS Dena has intensified tensions in the broader US-Iran conflict, expanding the conflict zone beyond the Middle East into the Indian Ocean region.

The United States has defended the strike as part of its military operations against Iran, while Tehran has condemned the attack and warned of consequences.