India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the Indian Ocean was “caught on the wrong side of events” after the United States sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena near Galle during the escalating Iran–US conflict. The frigate, which had earlier participated in a naval exercise in Visakhapatnam, was torpedoed by a US submarine about 40 nautical miles off Sri Lanka on March 4. Around 87 sailors were reported dead while dozens were rescued. Jaishankar said India responded to the situation from a humanitarian perspective, allowing another Iranian vessel facing technical issues to dock at Kochi. (PC: NDTV)

Before the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was sunk by a U.S. submarine in the Indian Ocean on March 4, 2026, India had reportedly offered the vessel shelter at one of its ports. The warship had earlier participated in India’s International Fleet Review and MILAN naval exercises in Visakhapatnam and was returning to Iran when it came under attack near Sri Lanka. Sources said New Delhi was willing to provide safe harbour if required amid escalating tensions in the region. The U.S. torpedo strike sank the ship roughly 40 nautical miles off Sri Lanka’s coast, triggering rescue operations by the Sri Lankan Navy and raising diplomatic concerns across the region. (PC: PTI)

India confirmed that it interned the Iranian Navy landing ship IRIS Lavan at the naval base in Kochi on March 4 after the vessel requested refuge following escalating tensions in the region. The ship, carrying around 183 crew members, had earlier taken part in international naval events hosted by India and later sought emergency docking due to technical issues. Indian authorities permitted the docking and arranged accommodation for the crew at naval facilities. The development comes amid heightened conflict involving Iran and the United States in regional waters, including recent attacks on Iranian naval assets.

An Indian-origin woman serving in the US Army has criticised protests in India supporting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei after his death in US-Israel strikes. In an Instagram video, Shilpa Chaudhary questioned how demonstrations in India would help protesters and warned they could damage the country’s global reputation. She said she opposed radicalism and urged people to think about how their actions are perceived internationally. Chaudhary also claimed many Iranians were celebrating Khamenei’s death, arguing that such reactions reflect public dissatisfaction with his rule. Her comments come amid rising tensions in the Middle East following the killing of Khamenei and subsequent Iranian retaliation against US and Israeli targets across the region.

The United States has asked India to buy stored Russian oil to help stabilise global energy markets as the Middle East war disrupts supplies. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the move would shift crude into Indian refineries and reduce pressure on other global refineries, easing rising prices. Oil markets have been rattled by the conflict involving US and Israeli strikes on Iran and threats to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy corridor. With Gulf supplies under threat and limited short-term options, Washington sees India as a crucial partner due to its large refining capacity and continued purchases of discounted Russian oil after sanctions on Moscow.

Shashi Tharoor said India is unlikely to join the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran militarily but cannot remain indifferent to its consequences. Speaking about the crisis, he stressed that New Delhi’s priority should be pushing for diplomacy and de-escalation to end the war quickly. Tharoor noted that the conflict directly affects India because around nine to ten million Indians live and work in Gulf countries, with many already facing travel disruptions and economic uncertainty. He also addressed the US decision to grant India a temporary waiver allowing purchases of Russian oil, saying it offers practical relief to Indian refiners from sanctions. According to Tharoor, India is carefully balancing diplomacy while safeguarding national interests.

Iran has urged India to question the United States over attacks on Iranian vessels in the Indian Ocean. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said Tehran is a “responsible power” and has not blocked the strategic Strait of Hormuz despite the ongoing conflict. His remarks came after the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was sunk by a US submarine near the coast of Sri Lanka. Khatibzadeh described the attacks on Iran as being “based on a lie” and stressed that diplomacy remains the only viable path to resolving the escalating US-Iran conflict in the region.

India has allowed the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Lavan to dock at the southern port city of Kochi after Tehran requested urgent assistance due to technical issues. The ship, which had participated in India’s International Fleet Review, arrived with 183 crew members who are currently being housed at Indian naval facilities. The development comes days after the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was torpedoed and sunk by a US submarine near the coast of Sri Lanka, killing dozens of sailors and escalating tensions between Iran and the United States. Officials said India’s decision reflects a humanitarian and pragmatic approach while balancing its strategic partnership with the US and longstanding ties with Iran. (PC: HT)

Mandana Karimi has announced she is leaving India, citing a lack of support and ongoing security concerns. In an Instagram video, the former Bigg Boss contestant said she cannot return to Iran because she has been banned from the country for the past decade. Her comments came after backlash over an interview discussing Iran and the death of Ali Khamenei. Karimi said she has been living under strict security measures and has kept her location private due to safety fears. She added that her recent social media posts aim to amplify Iranian voices rather than seek publicity, while reiterating that returning to Iran remains impossible for her.

At the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the United States wants to expand trade with India but will avoid repeating past policy mistakes made with China. Referring to the February 2026 US-India interim tariff framework, negotiated under the “America First” approach of Donald Trump, Landau stressed that future agreements must protect American economic interests and remain fair to US citizens. He noted Washington previously supported China’s entry into global markets expecting mutual gains but later faced intense commercial competition. At the same time, Landau clarified that “America First” does not mean isolation, saying cooperation with partners like India remains essential for achieving shared geopolitical and economic objectives. (PC: X)