Why India allowed an Iranian naval ship to dock in Kochi; Jaishankar explains
4 min learnUp to date: Mar 7, 2026 01:11 PM IST
India allowed an Iranian naval ship, IRIS Lavan, carrying younger cadets to dock at Kochi on humanitarian grounds because it was “having issues”, Exterior Affairs Minister S Jaishankar mentioned in his first public remarks on the continued Center East disaster. He mentioned the conditions on the time of the docking of the ship and its crusing away had been utterly completely different.
The remarks got here because the West Asia conflict escalated for the eight straight day.
IRIS Lavan docked simply days earlier than a US assault from the USS Charlotte sank one other Iran ship, IRIS Dena on March 4, 2026. Over 80 sailors had been killed within the assault. Each had been within the Indian Ocean Area for the Worldwide Fleet Assessment.
‘Request to dock got here after ship developed issues’
Talking concerning the episode, Jaishankar mentioned India had acquired a request from the Iranian aspect after considered one of its ships reported issues whereas crusing within the area.
“We acquired a message from the Iranian aspect that one of many ships, which presumably was closest to our borders at that time of time, needed to return into our port. They had been reporting that they had been having issues,” he mentioned.
#WATCH | Raisina Dialogue 2026 | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, “I too assist UNCLOS and worldwide regulation… We acquired a message from the Iranian aspect that one of many ships, which presumably was closest to our borders at that time of time, needed to return into our port. They had been… pic.twitter.com/CujBWJkXIL
— ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2026
In line with the minister, New Delhi permitted the vessel to enter Indian waters on March 1. The ship took a number of days to succeed in India earlier than finally docking in Kochi.
Jaishankar mentioned the vessel had quite a few younger cadets on board who had been initially travelling for a fleet evaluation when the battle state of affairs escalated. “When the ships had set out and once they got here right here, the state of affairs was completely completely different. They had been coming in for a fleet evaluation after which they acquired, in a approach, caught on the improper aspect of occasions,” he mentioned.
ALSO READ | Earlier than it was sunk by US, Iranian ship IRIS Dena was provided shelter by India
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The minister additionally referred to an analogous state of affairs involving a vessel close to Sri Lanka, noting that the authorities there had taken their very own determination in coping with it and that one ship “sadly didn’t make it”.
‘We did the suitable factor’: Jaishankar
Jaishankar emphasised that India’s determination was guided primarily by humanitarian concerns fairly than authorized or political components.
“We approached the state of affairs from the perspective of humanity, aside from regardless of the authorized points had been, and I believe we did the suitable factor,” he mentioned, whereas additionally reiterating his assist for the UN Conference on the Regulation of the Sea (UNCLOS) and worldwide regulation.
Addressing debates on social media about overseas navy presence within the area, Jaishankar mentioned the strategic realities of the Indian Ocean weren’t new.
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“There are lots of social media debates happening over this. Please perceive the truth of the Indian Ocean,” he mentioned.
He identified that the navy base at Diego Garcia has existed within the Indian Ocean for many years, whereas overseas navy deployments in Djibouti emerged within the early 2000s. He additionally referenced the event of the port at Hambantota throughout the identical interval.
His remarks come amid heightened tensions in West Asia which have triggered considerations about maritime safety and the protection of vessels working throughout the Indian Ocean area.