India is set to repatriate 183 crew members of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Lavan, bringing to an end their stay in Kochi after the ship docked at the port on March 4 amid rising tensions in the region, officials said.
The warship was part of Iran’s naval contingent that had participated in India’s International Fleet Review and the MILAN 2026 naval exercise in Visakhapatnam in February.
While operating in the Indian Ocean, the vessel developed technical problems, prompting Iran to seek permission on February 28 to dock three of its naval ships, IRIS Lavan, IRIS Bushehr and IRIS Dena, coinciding with the start of US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
India cleared the request on March 1. Of the three vessels, only IRIS Lavan reached an Indian port, arriving in Kochi on March 4. Its crew has since been housed at Indian naval facilities in the city.
IRIS Bushehr docked in Sri Lanka, where its crew was provided shelter, while IRIS Dena was sunk by a US submarine in international waters off Sri Lanka’s coast on the same day IRIS Lavan arrived in Kochi, resulting in heavy casualties.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Parliament that allowing IRIS Lavan to dock was a humanitarian decision. “We believe that this was the right thing to do," he said, adding that Iran’s foreign minister had conveyed gratitude for India’s gesture.
New Delhi has remained in close diplomatic contact with Tehran since the conflict began. Jaishankar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have held four conversations focused on de-escalation and regional stability.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing deep concern over the escalation of hostilities, civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.
PM Modi underscored the need for dialogue and diplomacy, reiterated India’s commitment to peace and stability in the region, and highlighted concerns related to the safety of Indian nationals and the security of key energy supply routes.
