Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has told his Sri Lankan counterpart Vijitha Herath that US sinking of Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off Sri Lankan waters was an unprecedented war crime.
Of some 180 crew only 30 odd personnel survived.
While referring to crimes committed by the United States and Israel against Iran, Araghchi has stressed that they would never forget this crime, which constitutes a grave violation of the fundamental rules of international humanitarian law and the 1949 Geneva Conventions, and would employ all legal and political means to hold the perpetrators and those responsible accountable and bring them to justice.
Araghchi has said so during a telephone conversation with Herath regarding the ongoing West Asia conflict and related developments.
During the phone call, Araghchi expressed appreciation for the Sri Lankan government’s efforts in the rescue operation for the sailors of the IRIS Dena and for assisting in the transfer of the bodies of the crew of the vessel and other Iranian naval personnel back to Iran, according to the Iranian Embassy in Sri Lanka.
US sank Dena as it along with two other Iranian vessels awaited Sri Lanka approval to enter the Colombo port. Iranian ambassador in Colombo Dr. Alireza Delkhosh is on record as having said that the Commander of Sri Lanka Navy invited the Iranian ships to visit Colombo following their participation in International Fleet review and Milan 2026 held in India in late Feb. All Iranian vessels had been unarmed at that time in keeping with protocols regarding the participation in such events.