Iran vows response after 104 sailors killed in sinking of IRIS Dena

Iran’s army commander-in-chief Amir Hatami warned that Tehran would respond to the killing of 104 sailors aboard the destroyer IRIS Dena, one of the newest vessels in Iran’s fleet, after the ship was attacked in the Indian Ocean while returning from naval exercises.

According to comments reported by the Islamic Republic News Agency, Hatami said the vessel had been completing what he described as a peaceful mission and was struck on its way back to Iran despite not being directly involved in combat operations.

“The name Dena and the sacrifice of her crew will remain a symbol of courage and devotion in the history of the Iranian Navy,” Hatami said.

He added that Iran’s armed forces would continue protecting the country’s maritime borders and would intensify efforts to strengthen the nation’s naval capabilities following the incident.

The IRIS Dena was torpedoed and sunk on March 4 by the USS Charlotte (SSN-766), a submarine of the United States Navy, while sailing in the Indian Ocean.

The Iranian warship had recently taken part in the International Fleet Review 2026, a multinational naval exercise hosted by India, and was returning home when it was sunk in international waters about 19 nautical miles (35 km) off the coast near Galle.

By Tamilla Hasanova