The sinking of an Iranian warship by the US was followed by India's statement that it had allowed the vessel to dock as a humanitarian gesture.

NEW DELHI — On Saturday (Mar 7): Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar announced that India had allowed an Iranian warship to dock as a humanitarian gesture, following the U.S.'s sinking of another Iranian naval vessel off the coast of neighboring Sri Lanka. 

An Indian government source told Reuters that the Lavan docked at India's southern port of Kochi on Wednesday, the same day the U.S. submarine struck the Iranian Navy frigate Dena after Tehran made an urgent request. According to the drill’s website and Sri Lankan officials, the Dena was on its way back from a naval exercise organized by India.

From a humanitarian point of view

Jaishankar told the annual Raisina Dialogue event that the Lavan — an amphibious landing vessel, according to the US Naval Institute's online news site — and two other ships "were coming in for a fleet review, but then they got caught up in the events.""I think we approached it from a humanitarian point of view, rather than focusing on the legal issues," he said. "I believe we did the right thing."

The Lavan docked at India’s southern port of Kochi

At least 87 people were killed in the U.S. attack on the Dena, which occurred 19 nautical miles off the coast of Sri Lanka, outside of its exclusive economic zone.

The Lavan docked at India’s southern port of Kochi on Wednesday, the same day the U.S. submarine struck the Iranian Navy frigate Dena. This occurred after Tehran made an urgent request, according to an Indian government source who spoke with Reuters.

Yesterday, Sri Lankan authorities said that they were escorting the Iranian naval ship Booshehr to a harbor on the eastern coast and relocating most of its crew to a naval camp near Colombo.

Related :U.S. sub sinks Iranian warship off Sri Lanka, killing 87 and expanding war zone

Source : Agencies

#The Lavan # Subrahmanyam Jaishanka #Iranian Navy frigate Dena # U.S. attack # Sri Lankan authorities #ship Booshehr