Iran Navy IRIS Lavan Captured

Hengam-class landing ship IRIS Lavan sought refuge at the Indian naval base in Kochi on 4 March 2026, hours after IRIS Dena was torpedoed and sunk by USS Charlotte south of Sri Lanka. Both vessels had participated in the International Fleet Review 2026 and Exercise MILAN at Visakhapatnam. India approved the docking request on humanitarian grounds, with the Indian External Affairs Minister stating the ship and its 183 crew were "caught on the wrong side of events." Iran's ambassador thanked India for the humanitarian support. The internment was one of the first warship internments in a neutral country since World War II.