"US will bitterly regret the precedent it has set": Iran says US struck its ship, 'guest of Indian Navy', without warning

Iran has warned that the United States will “bitterly regret” torpedoing its warship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, escalating tensions amid the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran. The Iranian vessel was reportedly struck by a US submarine in international waters while returning from naval events in India, prompting sharp condemnation from Tehran and renewed military exchanges across the region.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the attack as an “atrocity at sea”, alleging that the frigate, which he said was carrying around 130 sailors and had recently participated in naval activities with the Indian Navy, was struck without warning. In a message posted on social media, he said the incident had set a dangerous precedent and warned that Washington would face consequences for the strike.

The sinking of the frigate has intensified an already volatile confrontation between the United States, Israel and Iran. Tehran responded by launching a fresh wave of attacks targeting Israeli and American bases on Thursday morning, signalling an expansion of the military confrontation that has already seen multiple strikes across the region.

According to details emerging about the incident, the Iranian ship had recently taken part in international naval exercises and the International Fleet Review held in Visakhapatnam before heading back through the Indian Ocean. Reports suggest that dozens of Iranian sailors were killed when the vessel was torpedoed outside India’s territorial waters.

The naval strike marks a significant escalation in maritime warfare and comes amid a wider conflict triggered by coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, including leadership and military infrastructure. With both sides trading threats and military actions, the latest developments raise fears of a prolonged and widening confrontation in the region.