Allowing Iranian ship to dock was humane thing to do: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday that India allowed an Iranian naval vessel with technical problems to dock at Kochi, guided primarily by humanitarian concerns amid a fast-deteriorating regional security situation.

Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, Jaishankar explained that India responded to Tehran’s request after the vessel encountered difficulties in the Indian Ocean.

“You had these ships and we received a message from the Iranian side that one of the vessels, closest to our waters, wanted to enter an Indian port because it was facing problems,” the minister said.

The comments followed the sinking of Iranian vessel, IRIS Dena, which had operated in the region after joining naval events in India. India approved the request on March 1, after receiving it days earlier. The vessel then sailed to Kochi, where it remains docked.

The Iranian warship, IRIS Lavan, had deployed for Iran’s role in the International Fleet Review and multinational exercise MILAN 2026, held from 15 to 25 February 15 to 25. It participated in the fleet review before developing issues at sea.

Jaishankar noted that the crew—featuring many young naval cadets—disembarked and is now accommodated at Kochi naval facilities.

“When they set out for the fleet review, the situation was very different. They were essentially caught on the wrong side of events,” he said, alluding to escalating regional tensions.

“In such circumstances, when a ship in difficulty asks to enter our port, allowing it to come in was simply the humane thing to do,” Jaishankar added. India prioritised humanitarian aspects over narrow legal or political ones.

He referenced other regional vessels: one faced a similar plight in Sri Lanka, while another did not survive.

“There has been much social media debate on this decision,” he said, urging recognition of broader Indian Ocean strategic realities.

Jaishankar observed that foreign military presence is longstanding. Diego Garcia has operated for decades; bases in Djibouti and Hambantota emerged in the past two decades as geopolitics shifted.

Describing the Indian Ocean as a complex strategic ecosystem, the minister said the region is undergoing a process of rebuilding and rebalancing after years of shifting trade patterns and connectivity disruptions.

“Indian diplomacy has invested a lot of effort in the last decade to support this rebuilding process,” he said, adding that strengthening cooperation among littoral states was essential for long-term stability and economic growth.

Jaishankar emphasised that India’s own rise would play a key role in shaping the future of the region.

“With our growth, other countries of the Indian Ocean will also benefit. Those who work with us will gain more,” he said, adding that India’s trajectory would ultimately be determined by its own strengths.

The minister also drew attention to the risks faced by merchant seafarers during periods of conflict, noting that Indian nationals constitute a significant portion of the global maritime workforce.

“Every time a merchant vessel is attacked, there is a high probability that Indians are among the crew,” he said, adding that recent incidents had already resulted in casualties.

Jaishankar said the government’s approach to regional crises is shaped not only by strategic considerations but also by the safety of Indian citizens abroad, including the nearly 9 to 10 million Indians living in Gulf countries and the large number serving in the global merchant marine.