Iran has vowed that the United States will “bitterly regret” the sinking of one of its naval vessels in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka, near India.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, issued the warning on Thursday, marking the first time the Iranian government has publicly acknowledged that the United States sank the Iranian naval ship, IRIS Dena, in the Indian Ocean.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Araghchi described the incident as an “atrocity at sea,” noting that the attack occurred about 2,000 miles from Iran’s shores.
According to him, the frigate — which was reportedly carrying about 130 sailors and visiting as a guest of the Indian Navy — was struck without warning while sailing in international waters.
“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 the precedent it has set,” Araghchi wrote.
Earlier, the United States confirmed that it had sunk the Iranian Navy vessel, though further details surrounding the incident remain unclear.
The development is expected to heighten tensions between Iran and the United States amid ongoing geopolitical friction in international waters.
