During the Raisina Dialogue 2026, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar addressed the incident involving the sinking of the Iranian ship 'IRIS Dena' after being hit by a torpedo from a US submarine. He articulated India's stance on the matter, emphasizing that while India supports the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and international law, the decision to grant humanitarian refuge to the Iranian ship was justified despite it being at a complicated geopolitical moment. Dr. Jaishankar referred to the complexities involved in the Indian Ocean region's geopolitics, underlining India's responsibilities in such scenarios.

Jaishankar mentioned that a message from Iran indicated that the ship, which was the closest to Indian shores at that time, desired to dock due to a technical issue it was facing. India granted permission for the ship to dock in Kochi after evaluating the situation, which was pivotal in ensuring the safety of the crew onboard, including several young cadets. This decision was made in a context where the parameters of the regional security landscape were shifting rapidly.

Moreover, he clarified that the circumstances surrounding the ship's journey changed significantly from when it left until it arrived at Indian waters. Initially, the ship was en route to review its fleet, but the evolving events led it to encounter significant challenges, which highlights the unpredictable nature of maritime navigation amid geopolitical tensions.