Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused the United States of what he described as an “atrocity at sea,” after the Iranian frigate “Dina” was targeted in international waters, about 2,000 miles from Iranian shores.
Araqchi mentioned in his blog post on the “X” platform that the “Dina” frigate, which was on a visit to the Indian Navy with approximately 130 sailors on board, was attacked in international waters suddenly and without any prior warning.
He warned of the consequences of this incident, saying: “Mark my words: The United States will bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”
In a related context, reports indicated that an Iranian frigate sank off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, as the Sri Lankan authorities announced the rescue of a number of sailors and the recovery of bodies from the site of the accident, while efforts to search for the missing continue.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijita Herath told Parliament that the Iranian frigate “Iris Dina” sank after it issued a distress call off the coast of the city of Galle in the south of the country.
He explained that about 180 people were on board the ship, noting that Sri Lankan forces rescued 32 Iranian sailors and transferred them to the main hospital in the south of the country to receive treatment.
Reuters quoted sources in the Sri Lankan Navy and Ministry of Defense that one person died and 78 others were injured, while 101 people are still missing. However, a Sri Lanka Navy spokesman considered these numbers “inaccurate,” stressing that only 32 people had been rescued and were receiving treatment in hospital.
